Keeping Deer Away with A Lion and Beach Balls?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.พ. 2025
- I respect that our local wildlife includes a health population of Mule Deer. But my little pond is being drained dry constantly. That and they have plenty of other places to drink! What to do?
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Thanks for watching!
Now Don.😊 just a sign on a post saying please keep off the water.😊
Deer can read you know. 😊
All the best for Christmas and the new year Don.
😂
Thanks for not being afraid of saying Merry Christmas, and Merry Christmas to you Dutch779
Glad you're doing well. Cant wait to see the building progress.
I really like watching all the projeacts you do like the pond cleaning and pond security. Thank you for showing us your land, the trees ect and the wildlife, birds and such. You are a creative guy with lots of experience and wisdom and you work hard on your property. It is good to see someone who loves their "place" and wants to keep it nice.
I just realized I don't know how to spell "projects" lol
Thank you for letting us know about your upgrades ❤
Great video, Don you have a merry Christmas
In this world, there are people that can Muck out the stalls, and those that cannot.
I saw not one gag or cough
And I know what that smells like.
My grandpa once told me what a man was, he said it is just a man who does what needs doing, without whining about it.
In the modern world, that kind of thing just gets ignored
In my world, it is still revered.
Change nothing sir, my best wishes.
Agreed!
In 17 years of having my pond, I usually pumped out 2/3, leaving my 30+ goldfish in and added 2/3 fresh water. I never let my pnd level get low. I cleaned the bottom only once in 17 years as I felt the nutrients in the bottom of the pond would feed the fish and the pond plants. I also was leary of exposing the rubber to chemicals and solar exposure. As I never fed the fish I felt that the nutrients, rock and algae would provide the right environment to sustain the fish and I was correct. I was also carefulness to puncture the liner. I would use a leaf rake in the autumn to gently lift out leaves and detritus as this clarified the pond water and provided a greater volume of oxygenated water. But, as pond owners we each learn what works best for us. A solar powered motion detector light might also work to frighten the deer from the pond. I love the lion head idea!
Great comment about not draining the pond complete, I will install a pond in my backyard this coming spring. Merry Christmas to you.
@robertorivera7540 Merry Christmas to you! The magic pond combination for fish and other living creatures is water and stone. Once established, try not to clean the stone or remove too much water. Then the biome remains stable and able to support fish, reptiles and birds. Heck, once I had a juvenile pheasant join the party. Never even knew there were pheasant around. I guess it needed water. I also had deer break the three foot picket fence just to have a drink from the pond!
Good to see you again Don, keep up with the videos
Thanks David. Don here.
Sorry Don, I typed that and then had a visit from my cat on the keyboard and didn't realize it was changed@@affordabledesertliving3487
Don, Great to see you at it and doing well. Keep on keeping on and stay young at heart. You continue to inspire and give to others with your unique videos and humor. Wishing you a safe and healthy Christmas Season. Namaste! From Marine Corps veteran, Charlie.
I hope the Leo and floating balls work, I have deer issues too, and some fencing strategically placed can discourage them. Leave it to you Don to figure out a unique scare tactic, lol! Have a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing you in the next one! Have an awesome week!🥰
Loved the video and seeing the pond and the critters that visit. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the update Don -- love your pond ideas. Your scene introducing Leo reminded me of Tom Hanks in the movie "CastAway" naming the volleyball Wilson after painting a face on him! :D Stay well! Blessings to you as always!
I work on ranches and what I learned is if you take Chicken wire and lay it around whatever like your little water pond, Just take Chicken wire Lay it on the ground. Deer will not walk on Chicken wire. So the circumference around the outside of the rocks of your pond, I would go out Maybe a yard, Stake it down all the way around the area ,deer Will not step on Chicken wire
Sheri this was one of the most helpful comments I have had on here. I did indeed use your suggestion.
@affordabledesertliving3487 you did? Know one listens to me lol Thanks
I'll recommend another water tank (at least) 2500 or 3000 gallons each.
It's very easy to use 500 gallons a month without doing any irrigation or keeping a little water feature going.
As for discouraging deer... the only thing that works is a 6 ft fence that has a series of electric fence wires. One a ttop, one at 3 ft, one at 6 inches from bottom and one appx 6 inches from the ground and 2 feet out in the direction the deer approach from.
This might discourage other wildlife you want to let in though...
Deer can easily jump over a 6 ft fence.
Hi Don, watching you from the Philippines 🌴
🌵🌵🌵 💕Nice to see a video. Let us know how Leo worked out.. 🤣🦁🌵
I love the little ramp you made for the critters that might fall into the pond. Oh, and good job wearing your gloves! I’m pretty much on my 3rd pair over here; I wear them all the time when working outside. I’ll send you a pic of the pair I’m currently using; you’ll get a chuckle. 😆
Have you thought about lining the bottom of your pond with rocks? It might help preserve the liner.
I hope you had a great Christmas, Don. ❤. I did. All the best for you in 2024. From Werribee, Victoria, Australia. Neil Bendon.
Late reply Neil. Hope 2024 is a fantastic year for you.
Really nice water feature!
Hi Don Regarding the hole in your pump pipe .A wee dab of silicone or some duck tape will save you having to buy a new one. Nice to see another video from you .Have yourself a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous new year. ATB.
Very good Don very inventive hope it works to scare them away Have Good Christmas Don your keeping busy its good there
Great Job Don!! Amazing how well the pond holds up in your climate. Happy Holidays!!! Loyal Viewer from Connecticut.
Electric fence will keep the deer out. Also try some heavy fishing line like 30lb as a fence. The deer cannot see the fishing line very easy when they walk into it it spooks them not knowing what it is. Used T- posts with electric insulators to run the fishing line through.
Good morning friend!! Loved this video. I've been wanting to do a pond of my own.....but after the "dead mouse".... back to the drawing board. Also, thanks for the advice on the humming bird feeders, I'll put mine back out.....
Have an awesome day..... and if we don't have a video before, Merry Christmas!!
Leo is quite scary--very ingenious! If I were a deer that would really get rid of me. sorry that little mouse had a drowning death. Maybe a long stick placed from bottom to lip of pool would be an easy exit ramp--that's what I do just in case... Merry Christmas!
If you have some old chunks of copper tubing, throw those in the bottom of your pond. Helps control the algea and spread of viruses
Merry Christmas Sparky, great video again
Idea! you need to get a sleigh now. Merry Christmas Don!
On the hummingbirds feeders you need to bring them in after it is dark to keep them warm & thawed, then put out at first light when the birds are waking up when they need a warm sugar rush. Freezing cold drink burns too many calories for them first thing in the mornings.
Have a merry Christmas and happy new years Australia Queensland Gympie 🎉🎉
Oh I can't wait to hear if the deer deterrent worked🤞
I don't have much hope for the Leo strategy - although I find it an interesting experiment. When I was plagued by deer in North Carolina, I used rags soaked in a mixture of ammonia and glycerine (the glycerine prevents the ammonia from evaporating too quickly). I tied the rags at about knee height to convince the deer that a very large predator was in the area and marking my garden as its territory. It didn't work 100% but it did slow them down. Maybe ammonia scent nearby will make Leo appear more realistic to the deer? Best of luck defending your precious water supply from the most pernicious pests of the west - mule deer!
Have a great new year Don! 🎉
How kind. Thanks Johnny! You as well.
@affordabledesertliving3487 you're very welcome sir. thank you too.
Don I learned something from you every time I watch your videos
Thanks so much mountainlovers. So appreciate that. Way behind on answering comments as you can see. But I definitely appreciate you watching.
Good job. Thank you, for sharing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Enjoyed the video very much Don
The things you come up with. Keep these videos coming my friend.
maybe leave a branch or lumber
In the deep part of the pond
So if some little creacher (mouse) can climb out...
maybe
Done a volley ball is the same size as a water polo ball. Just not as grippy. It is also the same material as a US soccer ball foot ball. The water polo balls are grippy so you can grab them when they are wet. They are also used for water volley ball. I do not know if you saw in the background of the video you took at the end. The Anna flitting around when you pointed asking your viewers to subscribe to your channel. He looked like he was excited to see the pond back in operation. He also seemed to be enjoying your feeder.
I was thinking that I had not seen your videos lately.
I was getting concerned as well. Last video was a few weeks ago.
Me too❗️ just today and there he was👌
Hey Don, I was thinking your winters were warmer than Nova Scotia. 4C Today 6C tomorrow, and 13 Tuesday.
Hello! Good to see you. Very good job with the fountain and pond. Regarding unwanted animals. Have you considered sounds and smells they fear? Good luck with the project.
Merry Christmas to you!
Hey Don we really want to see what’s happening with new home build, more videos please. 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿
Good Job, buy alarm that you can remove activate!
That would do it. Problem is it would be going off at 2 am LOL.
Don you can purchase cougar urine on line. Mule deer would know that scent.
I like the Leo mask, just wish you had a motion sensor that would do a lion roar when the deer got near the pond.
On Amazon we found an alarm that makes a boom sound then dog barking. It solar and has motion detection.
I saw that one. LOL. I figured with all of the wildlife here I wouldnt get any sleep as it would be going off every hour.
I need to come visit next month.
I hope you didn't scare all the wildlife away. Happy Holidays to you.
Don do you have a solution? My winds just empty my hummingbird feeders ( the ants appreciate it). Any ideas? I thought about a solid mount on a fence post or ??
Keep up good work. I’ve only had range cattle on property twice in 5 years. They were looking for water, drank bird bath, then walked over it. The second time I was sorry I missed them and trailed them (trespassing) until I couldn’t walk anymore. Interesting couple of miles, following fences and washes then right down the road.
You could do like I do their is a top you can get for your feeder a lot of places call them a moat. Just fill them with water. They mount between your feeder hanger and the feeder. The water will drown the ants. It should cut down on the ants getting into your feeder. It works for me.
Reminds me of Tom Hanks movie Castaway, where he talks to the ball Wilson!
You might consider some Algae Eating Fish for your pond.
i wonder if the lion-head trick will work :)
Merry Christmas happy holidays remember only you can prevent your hangover
Hello from Sarasota FL. May i ask what the structure behind you is as you stood by the pond and red bird feeder, it looked rather close and modern? Thank You we love your communications.
Perhaps the neighbors Cabin?
As you continue on you homesteading journey always remember that you have invaded deer territory and not visa versa. They were there a long time before your presence. If you provide a watering hole and then attempt to prevent animals from using it, you are probably in error. Don't give them water if you don't want them around. The lion head was cute but do you really want that ugly thing in your pond. Just a thought. Blessings on you continued exploration of off grid living.
get a basic crossbow and harvest some fresh venison
I bet it’s the trickling of the waterfall that attracts the dear.
They also have a great sense of smell.
You could place branches over everything so they cant get through
There is no unthaw. Its just thaw hehe
maybe use urine to see if it will detour them...
?????
Pee around the pond
Did it work??
something motion activated with sound and light?
They are pretty bold so dont think that would bug them all that much. Thanks for watching.
My 3 year old daughter and I had fun creating an "owl" out of garbage bags and beach balls to rid us of the loudest, most annoying nightingale EVER. Good times.
Wow how creative. Thanks for watching.
Will Leo scare the birds?
It is not that they like your water better than the neighbors. Mule Deer rotate from water source to water source. It might take 4 to 5 days to get back to you.
Hi Don - Did the lion and balls work?
Yes indeed for the mule deer. Two wandering range cows werent troubled it seemed at all though. A work in progress.
This guy works hard! But then he’s from Canada. Go getters!
Thanks. Made my day Dallas!
maybe put a deer water station in by the boundary of your land
That bush over your pond can contaminate with leaves and debris
I clean the pond often and I love how it offers shade and birds love to land in it before they descend for a drink.
I put a watering troth out for the wildlife, when SHTF happens I will have fresh deer and wild rabbit meat.
Hi there Don!!!!!! 😊👍
What do you think about drilling your own Well???
Check it out on TH-cam.
It's an idea??? Would be one hell of a episode???
All the best 👍
Water polo ball should be water proof, they look alike but are different
G'day, mate!! Hey, Don, are you ok? Im worried about you. You haven' t posted anything for a month. Its not like you. We all love you. ❤. & We all care abo😅ut you. Neil Bendon. Werribee, Victoria Auatraila. Im concerned.
Thanks so much for caring Neil! Doing great here and new vid is up. Lots more coming.
If your lion and balls don't work just get a 50# bag of millorganite from a farm supply. It's human waste in a granular and deer won't come neer it!
Fencing will not keep the deer out. I am sure you know that. It will keep the cattle out.
Thanks Daniel. Thats what I figured as well having grown up with both of those.
Don I sent you an email. No response
Valerie not sure where you sent it. Nothing received here. Send again to affordabledesertliving@gmail.com please. Thanks.