Not Cagey

I had noticed that something had been nosing around the cedar seedlings that we had planted and placed protective cages around.

Out of the 25 seedlings in this area, only 1 plant with cage had been left alone. The rest had cages torn off the bamboo poles, had the poles broken off at ground level, or the cages were completely missing from the area just so the seedlings could be exposed for grazing.

The tender cedar trees were just too much of a temptation for cows, calves, elk or deer that could smell the delicacy beneath the protection of the cage.

I spent several hours re-caging what was left of the seedlings in hope that the cages will stay in place through the summer for the plant to get settled into the ground. As I worked my way around the hillside, I did see a few of the cedars that we had to replant that had been pulled out of the ground completely. Some survived, but most did not.

I had to do some looking but I did finally find the two missing cages scattered away from this planting area.

One of the cages had been carried nearly 50 yards away from this hillside. We are now back to being cagey.