What to Do with Deer Poop in the Yard?

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It’s a wonderful feeling when you look outside your window and see deer prancing about in your yard. However, you should know that while they are really easy on the eyes, deer can cause quite a few problems for you if you do not control their movements.

Deer droppings in the yard can prove to be a serious problem, which is why so many people refer to deer as both a blessing and a curse.

Watching deer in your yard is a wonderful thing, and it gives off a very fairy tale type feeling. But, once they leave the lawn, you will find it difficult to clean up after them. You see, both deer and fawn often tend to leave behind droppings in the yard.

The worst part is that they tend to eat in the garden, and if you are not careful, they are going to chew out all your plants within a small period of time.

So, as you can imagine, it’s imperative for you to take action. Deer poop in the yard is smelly, and nobody likes it. If you are very particular about your yard and like to keep it in pristine condition, you will want to get rid of the deer poop right away. However, it’s much easier said than done.

In fact, did you know that there are some pretty interesting ways by which you can use deer poop for the benefit of your yard?

There are several things that you can do with deer poop, and in the following paragraphs, we will talk about the key steps that you can take.

Removing Deer Poop

Obviously, the first thing that comes to mind is to get rid of the unsightly poop from your yard. Not only does it smell bad, but you should know that deer poop can also be harmful for your yard.

For instance, if you have spent a considerable amount of money in manicuring and fertilizing the lawn, the last thing that you would want to see is a bunch of deer droppings all around the yard.

You should know that all deer droppings consist of a high amount of nitrogen content, and when these droppings fall on the grass, they supply a considerable amount of nitrogen to the grass. This will considerably improve the health of your plants.

But, you should know that deer droppings tend to spread fertilizer, and when there are large droppings in a particular area, they can cause the grass to burn out. So, the best thing that you can do is remove them as quickly as possible, especially when you see large chunks in a smaller area.

You need to take a shovel and get rid of the droppings as quickly as possible. Obviously, it smells bad, but you have to do the job to prevent burnt patches from appearing all over the yard.

Another problem with deer poop is that it sometimes carries harmful bacteria like E. coli. There have been cases where infected deer have spread these bacteria on different fields, and have caused extensive damage.

If you have children in the house who like to play out in the yard, you should definitely consider getting rid of the poop. Make sure you put the poop in a plastic bag and seal it properly before you discard it in the trash bin.

Use it as Fertilizer

You should know that deer poop can also be turned into manure and used as a fertilizer.

Why waste so much money on buying expensive manure and fertilizer in the market, when you can easily make your own? Using deer poop as fertilizer is certainly nothing new, and has been around for quite a while.

People discovered quite a while ago that deer poop was full of nutrients and makes for excellent fertilizer, and in many parts of the world, this has become common practice.

However, when deer roam around in the wild, their diet is considerably limited, so you should know that the poop in your yard might not be as full of nutrients as you might think.

But, deer who live near suburban areas are able to get access to waste food and are able to get much more nutrients, which considerably improves the nutrient content in their diet.

Simply letting the droppings sit in your yard is going to act as a source of nourishment for the grass and the plants (but make sure it’s not all concentrated in one area), or you can mix it properly to create a fertilizer for your trees and plants.

Safety Problems

There are quite a few safety problems associated with deer poop. As mentioned, deer poop often contains pathogens that can prove to be quite harmful, especially for children.

There is a risk that you might end up getting sick if you use this type of fertilizer. People with compromised immunity, such as the elderly or pregnant women, should definitely avoid contact with it.

Because of these safety issues, you should first run it through a hot composting system. The temperature needs to hit at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit for around five days at the very least before you will be able to use it.

Moreover, it also needs to be composted for at least 40 days, which is more than enough time to kill all of the pathogens that tend to form inside the deer droppings.

Once you are done, you will at least have the peace of mind that there are no pathogens inside, allowing you to use the deer poop as fertilizer in your yard.

However, most people simply don’t go through the trouble. If you can spot deer poop in your yard, the best course of action is to get rid of it. You can simply take a shovel and pick up the deer poop and discard it into the trash bin.

Or, if there’s quite a bit of it, you should consider calling a landscaping company to do the job for you.

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