Deer, usually an icon of nature’s pastoral beauty, can also be a pest when their population is in an expansion cycle. Residents are encouraged to landscape with plants that are generally unattractive to deer, such as mountain laurel, ferns, daffodils, and evergreens (but not arborvitae). Despite lists (such as this) of vegetation deer may spurn, keep in mind that hungry deer will lower their standards and eat almost anything—including rhododendron and dogwood. Plants fresh from the nursery, or well fertilized, are more attractive because of the high nitrogen content. Commercial products have proven helpful. (Also see handbook Part IV, Section E.)