I have about 4 patches in a 500 meter sq area in heavy bush. I went to check on them last week, and I realized that a moose has walked all over my biggest patch. To say I was upset is an understatement. I had planned for deer, bugs, etc...but not a moose. The moose destroyed about 10 plants...
So now I have 4 plants left where the moose has trekked over, and another 20 plants in the other patches. Moose hunting season is in 3 weeks...although the area is used for hunting, it's such heavy bush that I didn't think anyone would run into my plants...however, with moose treks going literally over the plants...I am sure someone will find them, I am worried the 4 plants will encourage whoever finds the 4 to look for the rest of my babies. I have a suspicion someone has already seen them.
So now my question is....what should I do? I see three options here...if anyone has a better idea...please let me know.
1. Leave the plants alone. Hope that no one takes them, or if they do count it as a loss, and hope that no one finds the others.
2. Dig up the remaining 4 and replant them elsewhere
3. Destroy the 4 at the stem, making it looks like another moose came and destroy the 4, hopefully discouraging anyone from looking for more plants.
So now I have 4 plants left where the moose has trekked over, and another 20 plants in the other patches. Moose hunting season is in 3 weeks...although the area is used for hunting, it's such heavy bush that I didn't think anyone would run into my plants...however, with moose treks going literally over the plants...I am sure someone will find them, I am worried the 4 plants will encourage whoever finds the 4 to look for the rest of my babies. I have a suspicion someone has already seen them.
So now my question is....what should I do? I see three options here...if anyone has a better idea...please let me know.
1. Leave the plants alone. Hope that no one takes them, or if they do count it as a loss, and hope that no one finds the others.
2. Dig up the remaining 4 and replant them elsewhere
3. Destroy the 4 at the stem, making it looks like another moose came and destroy the 4, hopefully discouraging anyone from looking for more plants.