Editor,

 I would like to say “thank you” to Mr. Charles R. Swart for his letter in a recent Sunday edition of the San Marcos Daily Record.

 The letter, headlined with “Our hill country wildlife – something very special indeed” hits the proverbial nail on the head.

I totally agree with Mr. Swart.  I did some research and found a few solutions for those who are irked by the deer population eating their plants, using mailbox areas as restrooms, etc.

First of all, we should all remember that the deer were here first.  We invaded their habitat, they did not invade ours.  There are some of us who feel extremely lucky to live in an area where wildlife wanders though our backyard and we have the opportunity to watch them.  Live and let live is my motto. 

Now... as to solutions to this problem -  use your computer.  Type in “humane ways to rid deer from neighborhoods.” 

Among the numerous choices are sprinkling hair (human or dog) once a month around your property (you could use your own hair clippings or get some from your hair dresser), plant flowers and shrubs deer do not like (carnations, black-eyed susans, daffodils, lily-of-the-valley, foxgloves, alyssum and poppies.) 

Another solution is to use deer repellent (either liquid to spray or electronic ones that send out sonic and ultrasonic sounds that scare and irritate the deer) or place shiny objects, gazing balls or mirrors in the area where the deer congregate.

A controversial solution (although I hear it works) is to spray male urine (human or dog) in the area to be protected.  A homemade repellent (and there are many) is to mix Tabasco with water in a spray bottle and spray the plants or objects you want the deer to stay away from.  Don’t use it on vegetables, but it works fine on flowers. 

You printed a letter recently from someone who had a deer problem around the mailbox.  I would try the hair, along with planting some deer-proof plants at the base of the mailbox, and/or spraying male urine around the bottom of the mailbox. 

Killing is not the solution.  There are many, many humane ways to solve the deer problem.  Check them out on your computer.



Ann Blackburn

San Marcos