After foxes, are deer the worst garden pest?

AFTER my garden was damaged by muntjacs (Letters), I bought a motion sensor with sound-pitch settings to deter animals from deer to rodents. If that fails, my neighbour’s cockapoo barks incessantly at any sound or movement. Getting one of these dogs may be a good alternative if you can stand the racket.

ANTHONY METTAM, Bedford. I’D SUGGEST a bow or crossbow and a taste for venison should fix the problem fairly quickly.

A. BRADLEY, Mickleover, Derbys. MUNTJAC used to come into my large garden all the time. I tried many things, but eventually hit upon one method that works and doesn’t harm the animals.

The only way to stop them is to make them feel unsafe. Chasing them out is not enough.

Put a few pebbles in an empty plastic water bottle. When the deer appear, shake the bottle and it sounds as if they are being shot at. The deer leave at great speed and soon stop coming in.

I also had a problem with squirrels robbing the bird feeders. I put the bird food on a metal pole 6 ft high, which is greased liberally. The squirrels can’t get a grip and slide down — it’s fun to watch!

VINCENT JUDD, St Albans, Herts. ON MY early morning walk along a dyke with my border collie, we spotted two muntjacs.

They had gone down to the water for a drink. The fawn had difficulty getting out of the dyke, but its mother encouraged it and both made it up to the path and ran back into the woods.

It was a beautiful moment and we were privileged to see it. A reminder of life’s simple treasures.

MIKE MAIN, South Hykeham, Lincs.