Curious Deer Wanders Near the Farm

By Theodore West Published on
Curious deer wandering near a farm
Curious Deer Wanders Near the Farm

A curious deer recently wandered near my farm. At first, I thought “How adorable!” but I soon realized that this seemingly innocent creature could become a troublesome visitor. Experienced farmers will understand. These animals can devastate carefully cultivated vegetables and fruits.

On my farm, other wildlife frequently appears as well: bears, birds, wild boars, and monkeys. One reason for this problem is the aging farming population in the area. Many local farmers have abandoned cultivation due to damage caused by these animals.

In my case, I have decided to convert a small section of my field into a tiny monitoring cabin so I can keep an eye on the crops. This gives me some peace of mind regarding wildlife management, at least until the cabin is fully operational.

For now, I am trying to implement cost-effective strategies. Interestingly, I have found a crop that does not require extensive protection. Rhubarb leaves are inedible for humans and most animals avoid them as well. This makes rhubarb a surprisingly resilient choice.

Although it may seem like a digression, protecting crops requires measures both from the ground and from above. I doubt any seasoned farmer would describe a deer as cute. Perhaps calling it cute means I still have much to learn as a farmer. I will continue to explore ways to coexist with wildlife, though I anticipate it will be a challenging endeavor.

Season:
Location: Suwa, Nagano, Japan

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