Browse Control

After the seedlings have been planted, one of the risks to their development comes from animals. Certain animals will eat certain species of trees when the trees are still young and haven't become too coarse and woody. Even after these species have been growing for a year or two, the green tops of the trees may still be appealing as food, and since it is the top of the tree where growth is focused, the growth of that tree is considerably set back if an animal chews the top.

Some of the animal species that cause the most problems are deer, elk, moose, and rabbits. Some of the tree species that are most susceptible include the various types of cedars and pines. Broadleaf trees are also more susceptible than coniferous species, although of course there are far fewer deciduous trees planted in Canada than coniferous species.

In a few select locations where the cost of reforestation is very high per seedling, one solution is to employ various browse control methods. A conventional method is to temporarily place browse control cones over the top of the young seedlings. These cones will remain in place for several years. They allow sunlight to filter through to the seedling, and they allow for vertical growth, but they protect the seedling from being eaten until it reaches a height of several feet. Once the seedling has become well established, workers will remove the cones and the tree will have more room to continue its growth. One of the photos at the bottom of this page shows a group of white browse control cones.

Another less conventional method of browse control is through the application of biological agents, such as Plantskydd (which contains ingredients such as pig's blood). An application of such an agent makes the young tree smell or taste bad to the animals, so they won't eat it.

Cones are typically 3-4 feet in height and are staked with cedar stakes that are 3/4 inch thick and 4 to 5 feet long. These stakes are hammered into the ground, most often by the people who are planting the trees. If the cones are not placed almost immediately, the trees may be nibbled away by the following day. In some locations (for example, on Haida Gwaii), deer have been seeing following tree planters to eat all the young seedlings.

Browse control methods are not common in large commercial plantations in areas where costs are consistent with industry averages, and where survival rates are high. It is more common to see browse control attempted in places like the BC coast where the cost per tree can be extremely high compared to industry averages.