Stag Eats From Bird Feeder

More wildlife than just birds visit bird feeders, and every birder must be willing to share the occasional snack with a furry guest rather than a feathered one. When deer become regular pests, however, they will quickly drain feeders and cause other problems. Savvy birders can easily protect bird feeders from deer without distressing any wildlife.
Problems With Deer
With more than 90 species of deer found worldwide, there isn't a bird-friendly backyard that isn't likely to have a visit by these four-legged foragers. With their elegant appearances, graceful actions, gentle expressions, and generally peaceful ways, it can be hard to see deer as a menace, but they can bring many problems to the yard, including:
Hearty Appetites: Deer feed constantly, and when they find an easy, tasty food source, they quickly polish it off, including emptying out even large bird feeders. Because deer are social and move in herds, the cost of continually refilling feeders can be damaging to any birder's budget.
Garden Damage: Deer don't confine their foraging just to bird feeders, and once they find a bird-friendly backyard, they will also browse on flowers, gardens, and even trees. Their hooves may trample plants, and they will rub their antlers on trees and fences, splintering wood and causing additional damage.
Droppings: Deer do not have the most efficient digestive systems, and their droppings, while they can be great fertilizer, aren't always welcome all over the yard. Because many deer droppings are small, they can be difficult to clean up.
Feeder Damage: As deer try to access a bird feeder, they may knock over poles or pull feeders down from hangers, and can break or chew into the feeder to access seed, suet, or nectar. Deer have powerful teeth for continual grazing, and they can do significant damage to even sturdy feeders.
Neighborhood Nuisance: Deer do not stay confined just to birders' yards, and they will also visit neighbors' yards and cause the same types of problems in the garden or flowerbeds. This can cause friction between neighbors and create unpleasant tension if one neighbor perceives that feeding the birds is attracting deer.
Parasites: Deer can harbor a range of harmful parasites, including ticks, fleas, and lice, which can carry diseases to other animals as well as humans. When deer are in the yard, these pests can become established and be a problem for anyone nearby.
Accidents: As deer become common in a neighborhood, they are more vulnerable to car collisions or other accidents that may result in extensive damage or injuries to vehicle occupants.