PAWS Wildlife: Are there deer in Shoreline / Lake Forest Park?

Are there deer in Shoreline / Lake Forest Park?

The MLTNews.com reported August 5, 2010 "A deer was spotted Wednesday in Mountlake Terrace near 228th St. SW and 39th Ave W around 11:30am. The deer was later spotted in the Brierwood neighborhood of Brier. Though there are regularly sightings of coyote, raccoons and rabbits in MLT, it’s rare to hear about a deer sighting."

In the early 1990s, a Shoreline resident coming home from work around 3 pm followed a deer which was walking down the street northbound on 8th NE, between NE 175th and NE 185th.

There were said to be deer in the densely wooded site on N 205th between Meridian and 1st NE, but when it was cleared for construction of the Ballinger Commons apartments, there were no displaced deer in the neighborhood.

Photo courtesy PAWS

Shoreline Area Wildlife: Deer?

PAWS provides regular posts about wild animals which gives facts on the species’ natural behavior, as well as how to avoid and resolve common problems with the animals.

Natural History and Behavior

Deer are a common sight throughout Washington State, although the kind of deer varies by region. On the west side of the Cascade Mountains the Columbian Black-tailed Deer is the dominant species. You can find Mule Deer and White-tailed Deer east of the Cascade crest, and the endangered Columbian White-tailed Deer are found in pockets of habitat along the lower Columbia River.

Genetic differences aside, all deer in Washington State have similar habits. They are herbivores, eating a variety of plants, fruit, nuts, lichens and fungi. Their feed largely on plant parts called browse, which means they eat the leaves, buds and young shoots of woody vegetation.

Deer activity peaks around dawn and dusk, but they may be active at any time of day. They prefer open fields interspersed with patches of forest, and they often show up in the suburbs with sufficient greenbelts and parks.

Deer breed during November and December, and does (female deer) give birth roughly six months after mating. During the first few weeks of life, the fawns are often left alone for extended periods of time while their mothers forage for food.

While the fawns wait for their mother to return, they lay flat and motionless, usually in grassy cover, so they do not attract the attention of predators. As they grow larger and steadier, the fawns stay with their mothers at all times and forage alongside her. By the end of the summer the fawns are no longer dependent on their mother, but they may stay with her for many more months.

Solving and preventing conflicts

Most homeowners enjoy seeing deer around their homes, but enjoyment can turn to annoyance when deer feed on ornamental shrubs, garden vegetables and flowers. Occasionally a homeowner may become worried when deer become habituated and approach people. Most conflicts that arise can be managed with habitat modification, exclusion or a change in behavior on the part of the property owner.

Never feed deer

Intentional feeding of deer may attract more of the animals to your property and may contribute to their becoming habituated to humans. The more comfortable deer are around humans, the more likely they will help themselves to gardens and plants near houses.

While you may not mind, your neighbors may take issue with their plants being eaten. Also, deer are large, and it may be disconcerting for some people if they are approached by a deer looking for a handout. The situation may even become dangerous depending on how strongly habituated the deer are and who they are approaching for food. Habituation may also lead to the deer to wander into roads or other areas in which they endanger themselves and/or humans.

Other techniques

Appropriate fencing is the most effective way to exclude deer from yards or gardens. There are also several species of deer resistant native plants that you can use to replace more vulnerable ornamentals. Commercial deer repellents are also available to protect small areas or individual plants.

If you find a deer fawn

If you live in an area where deer are common, or if you hike or camp, you may at some point encounter a deer fawn. In most cases it is best to leave the fawn where she is and leave the area so the mother can return to care for her.

If you are worried the fawn may be injured or distressed, PAWS can help you determine if the baby wild animal needs help.

If you or a neighbor have questions or a current problem with wildlife, please call the staff at PAWS Wildlife Center at 425-412-4040. PAWS helps resolve conflicts with wild animals and also rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife found by the public.

--PAWS Wildlife Center Staff | wildlife@paws.org