Why are so many deer attracted to Oakland Hills neighborhood?
DEAR JOAN: My wife and I have been living in the Oakland Hills for 45 years. Just in the last year we have seen many deer move into our neighborhood. On evening dog walks we always see three to half a dozen.
The other night, coming back from a baseball game, we drove by at least a dozen hanging out in one of the neighbors’ well-lit and large driveways. I haven’t found one neighbor who is annoyed by their presence. In fact one night a few weeks ago one of the small deer started walking up to me until my wife pulled me back and said, “For their own protection, you don’t want them to get too used to us.” Our neighborhood association even put up deer crossing signs to slow down the cars.
It seems like everyone I talk to has a different reason why they have landed up here, everything from they’re overbred, there’s no predators here, no one was out and about during Covid, to there’s so much building, they’re getting chased from their natural environment.
What is your opinion on why we have so many deer in a very rural neighborhood?
— Dan San Souci, Oakland
DEAR DAN: Darn, everyone has taken all the best answers. All those theories are valid and could be responsible for the influx of deer. It’s most likely a combination of factors.
I think the Covid effect is the least pertinent. The population might have started expanding during those long months of Covid and the lock-down, but we’ve pretty much returned to our normal routine in the past five years.
Deer populations rise and fall depending on a number of things, such as predators and disease. If there’s been heavy construction in the area, that could also push deer into new areas. The availability of food and water can also be a factor.
If I had to put a wager on the cause, I’d say it’s the neighborhood and the people who live there. It’s a rural area where people and traffic are less than in a more urban area, and most of the residents are accommodating, welcoming the deer and taking extra steps to enhance their safety.
DEAR JOAN: My husband gave me a beautiful birdhouse. It’s painted several colors and has lots of wooden attachments — flowers and leaves, mostly.
It’s almost too pretty to put out, but I’d love to provide a beautiful home for some of the birds I see in my backyard. Do you have any tips for getting a bird to move in?
— Rose K., Santa Clara
DEAR ROSE: The best tip I can offer is to put your beautiful birdhouse somewhere it will shine inside your home, then go buy a plain, boring house for your yard.
Decorative birdhouses are primarily for the enjoyment of humans. Nesting birds don’t find them very appealing. That’s not to say no one would move in, but birds are very protective of their nests, eggs and hatchlings. Putting them in an attention-getting house could spell disaster.
Do some research on what type of birds frequent your yard and then find a plain house built for their needs. You have all winter to investigate.
The Animal Life column runs on Mondays. Contact Joan Morris at AskJoanMorris@gmail.com.