Deer Court,
I live in Kelowna B.C., in the forest area, because of the local fires I have noticed that for the first time in 7 years, the deer are now coming into my front yard to feed. Unfortunately, it seems that most of what I have planted they are not eating. I have some deer during the day in my back yard and would like to know what I can feed them to help out. I just gave one 5 apples and he/she? ate them but I would like to do more. Please tell me what I can give them to help them out. The forest is very dry here this year and I think their nature food has dried up. I plan on trying to get the city involved with maybe dropping bales of green feed in the areas would that help?
Sincerely,
Fred
Dear Fred,
You humans are so confusing! One minute you want to know how to kill us, the next minute you're setting up homeless shelters and apple kitchens in your front yard to take care of us!
The truth is, frequent front yard visits by deer are commonplace during the Christmas season in Canada, and especially in British Columbia.
It all began when the famous, 17th century, typically English, dessert called plum pudding became a favorite holiday tradition. The dessert was often prepared on Christmas morning and, generously sprinkled with brandy and flamed as it was brought to the table, always served with great ceremony.
Eventually, plum pudding went out of style and out of it came the modern Christmas fruit cake. Although the recipe is simpler, this cake includes large quantities of candied fruit, raisins, dates and nuts, a hated combination among humans, but just what we deer crave!
Canadians adopted a new holiday tradition of baking a fruitcake for a relative to throw as far out into the front yard as possible. If my instincts serve me correctly, you were probably the recipient of a horribly delicious fruitcake. Next year, might I suggest entering the Fruitcake Toss, also a very popular event, which Canadians leave for the deer to cleanup.
So skip the bland bales of green feed, the patronizing apples, and all that textbook deer food (as if we can't scavenge for ourselves) and keep on hating your Grandma's fruitcake!
Sincerely,
Court (the deer)