Fences & the Deer that Jump Them

Fences abound on Pender Island encompassing a wide variety of styles. Some are straight like rulers, some curve gently, some are plain while others are works of art. At my favorite, the fence top curves sinuously like waves rolling onto a beach.

These ubiquitous fences, usually reaching eight feet or more in height, are not for privacy. The reason is simple. It is the Columbian black-tailed deer. They are small in size, but can they jump! And they consider cultivated gardens as treasure troves and have the uncanny ability to devour flowers and plants with incredible speed.

Gardeners go to great lengths to protect their prized plants. But it is not easy, for the deer have proliferated and are everywhere. Pender Island’s deer population is estimated at about 1,000.

A friend who has a large garden surrounded by a chicken-wire fence, described how bucks used their antlers to lift up the chicken wire and crawl underneath. Although she kept plugging the holes, one night they broke in and devoured kiwis, cabbages, beans, lettuce and the leaves from the miniature apple trees. “I lost everything,” she said. “But I built a new eight-foot, chain-link fence. Now I can enjoy my garden in peace.”

Another friend knows deer well, for they visit her apple orchard regularly. “They love the tender tips of leaves,” she said. “They reach quite high by standing on their hind legs, looking like kangaroos. And they cooperate. One will grab a branch and pull it down so others can eat. Late in the autumn, when fallen apples begin to ferment, the deer become quite mellow in their behaviour,” she added with a smile.

Cute as deer are their numbers have grown to the point where there is serious conflict with humans. During mating season in November, the bucks can be aggressive. Road collisions occur occasionally. The deer also disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem on the Gulf Islands. For example, deer eat young arbutus tree leaves and bark, killing them. Considerable debate continues about how deer populations might be controlled, but until the number of deer is reduced, fences remain the solution of choice for gardeners.

I love the fences of our little island. They are fascinating, a form of art, and each one tells a story not only about the animals that live here but also about the fence owner.

Pender Island Information

Chamber of Commerce:  http://www.penderislandchamber.com/