Bamboo Deer Chaser Adds Decorative Water Feature to Garden

Lindsay ~ 31 March 2009

If you enjoy Asian landscaping accents, then you might consider adding a “deer chaser” to your garden.

These traditional contraptions make a soft clunk each time the water cycles through.

In theory, this noise is supposed to be a bit of a pest control device, scaring away any deer who are thinking of munching on your lettuce rows. In reality, a fence is probably more practical, but these bamboo deer chasers can be attractive garden accents.

The device works by having water enter through a bamboo spout and pour into another hollow bamboo rod. When the hollow rod has filled with water, the weight of the water tips the section of bamboo downward, spilling it into a basin. Once empty, it returns to an upright position, striking a stone with a “clunk.” A submersible pump cycles the water back up to the top so the process begins a new.