At the Bronx Target, an interesting sight greeted shoppers…a 4-hour stand-off between police and two deer. Two does that were wandering in the parking lot became stuck behind a chain link fence at the back corner of the store. Store workers discovered the deer and corralled them until the police could arrive.“Maybe they learned about the sale going on,” said Jennifer Frazier. "I think it was actually funny to see two deer here at Target," she said.
Animal experts say deer often follow water in their quest for food. Some suspected they wound up in the Bronx by following a set of railroad tracks from Westchester that lie in front of the Harlem River. In fact, the workers believe they came from Van Cortlandt Park, which lies between the Bronx and Westchester, as deer have often been sighted there.
Longer boards of plywood were brought in to fortify the makeshift pen and keep the deer from escaping. The stand-off came to an end when emergency service officers arrived to tranquilize the deer. The deer were taken to a veterinarian in Manhattan where they were given a clean bill of health. They were safely returned to Van Cortlandt Park.
This occurrence will not be the last of its kind. The deer population has grown to an estimated 30 million in the United States. As their natural habitats continue to shrink, deer will wander out of the wild wreaking havoc on backyard gardens, farms and even parking lots of retail stores. Deer have a highly developed sense of smell, which helps them identify food sources from hundreds of yards away.
People across the U.S. have been forced to deal with deer and their relentless quest for food. Many homeowners have found success using electronic deer repellents and spray deer repellents. One type of electronic deer repellent involves three posts that work similar to an electric fence, without the hassle of installation. Posts are staked in yards and scented with a lure to attract wandering deer. When deer touch the post, they receive a harmless yet gentle shock.
The other type of electronic deer repellent is a motion-activated water repellent. When this device’s infrared sensors detect movement on your property, it broadcasts a jet of water up to 35 feet. By startling the deer, electronic deer repellents condition deer to avoid an area.
Homeowners have also found success with spray deer repellents. The most effective deer repellents target a deer’s sense of taste and smell. The ingredients putrescent egg, garlic and capsaicin have been found to work best. Capsaicin gives plants a hot pepper flavor that harmlessly irritates a deer’s mouth, causing deer to forage elsewhere. Putrescent egg and garlic mimic the stench of decaying animals, which makes deer believe a predator is nearby. Deer will flee the area out of fear.
With electronic deer repellents and spray deer repellents, homeowners have an easy, effective and economical way to keep deer keep off of their properties. Let deer forage in the wild where they can remain safe from stand-offs with police.