It’s cheap, it’s practically invisible, and it actually keeps the deer out.
Fifteen thousand feet of add-on deer fencing has already been sold, and it’s proven to be 99 per cent effective.
“Deer are really destructive,” said Duane Derouin, sales representative for the add-on deer fence manufactured by H&G Metal Works. “They eat shrubbery, gardens, whatever, and cause hundreds, even thousands of dollars worth of damage.”
Derouin met a homeowner whose pool lining was eaten by a deer and had to be replaced.
It is a problem many Vernonites are far too familiar with, and until now there has been no easy solution.
Deerstop is an add-on deer fence that goes on top of an already existing metal or wood fence. It consists of three lines of nylon yellow filament, which forms a 30-inch vertical extention over the existing fence.
Inventor of the patent-pending add-on deer fence, Hans Wuggenig, says that there are two things that set this product apart from the other deer-stopping solutions. First, the add-on fence costs a fraction of what people pay for high-post or chain-link fencing. And secondly, it’s virtually invisible.
“There should be no complaints from the neighbors,” said Derouin. “It’s really not obtrusive.”
The yellow lining creates a visual barrier that deer can see quite clearly, as yellow is one of the colours their vision performs best in. Yet the human eye tends to look right past it.
The cost will be a big selling point as well says Derouin. A chain link fence for a normal sized yard can run into the four figures, whereas the add-on deer fence is $1.50 per foot.
Also, the simplicity of the product makes it a do-it-youself project for those inclined to do so. “We can come and install it, or people can do it themselves if they like,” said Wuggenig.
All you need is a hammer, a utility knife or some scissors, and a few hours. The fence takes on average one hour per 200 linear feet.
The deer problem can be a frustrating situation, says Derouin, but the weather-resistant add-on deer fence is a practical solution that repels deer without harming them.
Wuggenig invented the product three years ago and then put it through two years of testing to get it ready for consumers. They have officially been installing fences since the fall, and have gotten some very good feedback.
“The saddest thing is that some people have actually stopped growing gardens because the deer just keep eating them,” said Derouin.
“There was one customer who said she had been growing for two years and had never actually seen her flowers. The deer would eat the buds before they had a chance to bloom every time.”
