I beleive it can be toxic. I have an acre or so pasture that has it. I've tried the round up but it didn't erradicate it, I never could get them all! What about solarizing it? Is it in the sun or shade? Lay down black plastic for several weeks? I never did get rid of mine. The animals just don't eat it, but it would be nice to replace the buttercup with something edible, KWIM? Please post back with what you end up doing to get rid of it! Brendasue

If deer are hungry enough -- no other food supply -- they will eat plants that they normally wouldn't touch. The fact that the doe has fawns with her indicates that she isn't leaving them alone so that she can go forage for food. Typically the doe leaves the fawns, hidden in foliage, during the day while she ventures out for food. She must not have a good place to leave them, or she must not have a good milk supply and is already taking them out to forage with her. I assume that the fawns still have spots? That's young to be taking them around. Deer resistant gardening is my thing and I have been watching the deer habits for years. A mother doe is also usually accompanied by other females. Those other females will often act as babysitters. I always see one or two other females present when a doe is giving birth. My local herd tends to have their fawns in a grassy opening in the woods behind my porch, so I witness this several times every June. The fact that your doe and fawns are alone and out and about foraging typically unpalatable food is unusual. The wild food supply must be very, very scarce and this family sounds like they are isolated from a larger herd.

There are no species found in this area (SE GA coastal plain). I have read that they do not grow in tropical and semitropical lowlands. I suppose it's the heat and/or humidity. that they can't tolerate or absence of a cold dormant period. They seem to multiply with abandon in the northern climates, as does many other Genera/species in the Ranunculaceae Family (Actaea, Anemone, Hepatica, Helleborus, Aquilegia, etc.), that are not found in this area and does not establish in cultivation. On the other hand, the transplanted native Oakleaf Hydrangea loves the perfect drainage of sand and once established, best get out of it's way!

Hi Hardy little devils aren't they. ?? lol You will never get rid of them lol. I always whack them down whenever they get too tall. .and pull them whenevr I see new ones. Watch your pots and raingutters they'll grow quite happily there too lol They can get at least 6 feet tall but get very leggy. If you give them some good soil and a shot of fert. they'll flower like crazy and twice as big. They seem to die out after a while so wouldn't be too good a shrub. There is a pale yellow type with a black eye ,much shorter and more prostrate .Also a hybrid between the two . gary