A Sun Block Is To Sunburn As A Deer Block Is To…
by John Weckerle
…Preventing deerburn?
Here at NM-Central.com headquarters, we have the good fortune to be visited regularly by all manner of local wildlife, including deer. Depending on the time of year, we provide two or three water sources – a fountain in the fenced area, a watering trough with a pump and some rocks out in the open and, except in winter, a small fountain on the porch (the small birds and hummingbirds love that one). The one in the open is a favorite of the local deer population. Last Tuesday I looked out and noticed that none of the deer were looking particularly fat, and one was looking downright scrawny. By coincidence, I also noted while watering the many trees we’ve planted in the fenced area that at one point during the winter one of the deer apparently jumped the fence and took a few bites out of one of the chokecherries.
We don’t tend to directly feed wildlife, but prefer to work on habitat enhancement to provide a better food supply. Over the years, we’ve planted a number of trees and shrubs intended to provide forage for the smaller wildlife, especially birds, bees, and butterflies. These have included chokecherries, Nanking cherries, Tartarian honeysuckle, lilac, red hot poker, trumpet vine, butterfly bush, and others. It’s harder to plant forage for deer, because they tend to feed on it before it’s big enough to withstand the browsing. We have some chokecherries, Tartarian honeysuckle, and lilac growing in chicken wire cages in areas where the deer will eventually be able to browse on them, but until they’re big enough, the deer aren’t allowed to taste.
Faced with the evidence that the deer may be taking things into their own hands (or hooves, more precisely), we decided to stop at Broome’s Feed and Supply in Moriarty on our way back from dropping some things off at the Bethel Storehouse, pick up some corn to feed the deer and – we hoped – give them something to do other than jump the fence and eat my trees. When I asked about the corn, the very helpful lady behind the counter informed me that they do have corn, but they also have deer blocks.
Deer blocks?
Deer blocks are specially formulated food sources for deer and elk. They are made of grain by-products, grain protein, grain products, forage products, molasses products, and other goodies that should be good for the deer. They are also fortified with vitamins A and E, calcium, phosphorus, and salt. A 33.3 lb block costs about the same (within about a dollar) as 50 lb of corn. Given the populations of crows, ravens, and other birds we have here, we’d probably lose the difference to the birds, anyway, so the deer block seemed like a good bet, and we bought a couple to try out (one of the folks at Broome’s actually carried them out and put them in our car, without even being asked. Great service!). The first deer block went out on Friday afternoon. Thus far, no nibbles, but we haven’t seen any evidence that the deer have been by yet. We’re optimistic that this will give them a little something extra to tide them over – especially since this looks like it’s going to be one of those La Nina years where we watch the clouds sail over us and drop their moisture on Stanley, making our forage here sparse. If it doesn’t work out…well, there’s always corn.
4 Responses “A Sun Block Is To Sunburn As A Deer Block Is To…”
Nice photo and great article.
Thanks, Chuck! One of the great things about that watering trough is that it brings the deer up close – and within easy range of my long lens. Of course, the best shots come right after I wash the windows!
id you shoot this one through the window? Too good to be true!
That one was shot through the window that faces out to the front porch, about 15 feet or so from the trough. A lot of my deer “portrait” shots come from that location!