Learning to Live with Wildlife 2005
By Sarah Trebilcock

Over the years, the Truckee area has changed from a rural to a semi-urban environment. Local fires dating from the 60’s, the building of I-80 and the development of subdivisions , golf courses and ski areas have had huge effects on the ecology and distribution of wildlife in this area. Predator-prey relationships have changed population numbers of certain species dramatically.

Thirty years ago when I moved to Prosser Heights, residents saw coyotes on a daily basis, usually in packs. Deer and rabbits were present in small numbers and squirrels, voles and moles did not seem to cause problems in yards. Sapsuckers and bears were rarely sighted. All of this has changed especially in the last ten years. In my early days a nurseryman, I was rarely asked animal control questions. Now answering them seems one of the primary functions of my job.

The deer population in the Truckee area has been affected by fire in the short term. In a natural ecosystem, deer rely heavily on bitterbrush for food, especially in winter. Recent local fires, such as Boca, Hirschdale, Crystal, Verdi, Cottonwood and Martis destroyed large acreages of bitterbrush. Fire in the sagebrush-scrub eventually increases food for deer but in the meantime, deer must move elsewhere or into our yards and open spaces. According to game biologists, deer are teaching their young to forage in subdivisions and they are passing the information from generation to generation. It will be interesting to see how many deer return to the Truckee area this spring after the devastating effect of last winter’s snow on their population.

Co-existing with deer in our landscapes can be challenging. In areas with serious deer problems plant selection is important. We have developed a list of plants that deer rarely eat. This list includes many gray leaved plants such as lavenders and rose campion. Catmints,dianthus and hardy geraniums are not favorite foods. Conversely plants that deer love should be avoided unless protection is provided. These include summer phlox, raspberries, columbine, mountain ash, and some other members of the rose family.

Fencing is another solution where permitted. Single wire electric fences have been used successfully as have heavy plastic deer fence and netting. Crumpled up chicken wire laid on the ground is also a deterrent.

Several years ago, a product called Liquid Fence appeared on the market. It contains bitter but not poisonous, ingredients that deer and rabbits do not like. They tend to stay away from plants sprayed with it during summer months. (When deer are hungry in fall, it does not work as well.)

One of the most effective deer deterrents is a motion sensing water sprayer called a Scarecrow. It senses deer or other animals and sprays rapid pulses of water at them. It rests several seconds and does it again. Many Scarecrows are in use here in Truckee with good results.

This time of year, winter damage from voles in our yards becomes apparent. Voles often gnaw bark and girdle trees and shrubs. They also eat roots so extensively that the plant falls over. They often make trails in the top layers of grass and make the lawn look like a mess in the spring.

In the past, vole populations were controlled by coyotes and weasels. Now that the predators are moving away, the vole population has escalated. However, dogs, cats, owls and hawks often eat them.

Biosol organic fertilizer applied in fall just before permanent snowpack often discourages them from lawns and flower beds. In the summer months live and snap traps baited with peanut butter will catch them. Recently I read about a method using mousetraps that I think definitely should be tried. It involves buying a large number of snap mouse traps and baiting them unset with peanut butter. After several days, if traps are baited and set they will catch a significant number of voles.

There are many more garden pests such as sapsuckers, rabbits and squirrels. A more extensive article with information about these and other pests appears on our website villagernursery.com.

Sarah Trebilcock is a biologist and plant ecologist with the Villager Nursery in Truckee.