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Location
Ithaca, New York
Start Date
6-10-1991 12:00 AM
Description
A series of bioassays was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of soap and soap components as deer (Odocoileus virginianus) repellents. Sweet-corn plots protected with tallow-based soap bars, nontallow bars, and those sprayed with the commercial repellent Hinder®, experienced significantly reduced browsing compared with untreated plots. Damage to plots protected with tallow-based soap was less than damage to nontallow soap plots, while Hinder®-treated plots had intermediate damage. In a second bioassay, 2 spray applications of soap were found to be as effective as soap bars in preventing browsing to native vegetation over a 126-day period. The addition of perfume did not enhance the repellent effect of the soap sprays. Finally, a range of individual soap components were evaluated on apple prunings for their repellent properties. All components provided at least limited repellent effects, and plots protected with tallow fatty-acid soap bars, commercial soap bars, and soap perfume had significantly less damage than untreated plots. Tallow fatty-acid soap reduced damage significantly more than coconut fatty-acid soap, and tallow appeared to be a major component responsible for soap's repellent properties. Soap-bar applications to newly-planted apple trees were estimated to cost $94/ha (2.74 acre), and were less expensive than typical commercial repellent programs during the first growing season. However, growers should consider alternative repellents after that time, as soap's cost-effectiveness decreased due to the small sphere-of-influence of individual bars, and the increased labor costs associated with applying multiple bars to individual trees. Growers using soaps should practice aggressive vole management, as field observations suggest soap-treated trees are more susceptible to vole damage.
Recommended Citation
Fargione, M. J., & Richmond, M. E. (1991). The effectiveness of soap in preventing deer browsing. In Curtis, P. D., Fargione, M. J., & Caslick, J. E. (Eds.), The Fifth Eastern Wildlife Damage Control Conference (pp. 68-74). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University.
Included in
The Effectiveness of Soap in Preventing Deer Browsing
Ithaca, New York
A series of bioassays was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of soap and soap components as deer (Odocoileus virginianus) repellents. Sweet-corn plots protected with tallow-based soap bars, nontallow bars, and those sprayed with the commercial repellent Hinder®, experienced significantly reduced browsing compared with untreated plots. Damage to plots protected with tallow-based soap was less than damage to nontallow soap plots, while Hinder®-treated plots had intermediate damage. In a second bioassay, 2 spray applications of soap were found to be as effective as soap bars in preventing browsing to native vegetation over a 126-day period. The addition of perfume did not enhance the repellent effect of the soap sprays. Finally, a range of individual soap components were evaluated on apple prunings for their repellent properties. All components provided at least limited repellent effects, and plots protected with tallow fatty-acid soap bars, commercial soap bars, and soap perfume had significantly less damage than untreated plots. Tallow fatty-acid soap reduced damage significantly more than coconut fatty-acid soap, and tallow appeared to be a major component responsible for soap's repellent properties. Soap-bar applications to newly-planted apple trees were estimated to cost $94/ha (2.74 acre), and were less expensive than typical commercial repellent programs during the first growing season. However, growers should consider alternative repellents after that time, as soap's cost-effectiveness decreased due to the small sphere-of-influence of individual bars, and the increased labor costs associated with applying multiple bars to individual trees. Growers using soaps should practice aggressive vole management, as field observations suggest soap-treated trees are more susceptible to vole damage.