Waterholes are an excellent addition to any wildlife property and can benefit various types of wildlife. We see deer, turkeys, quail, rabbits, doves, and many other non-game species. Various animals can take advantage of these water sources, at any time, year-round. Even if the property has plentiful natural water sources, in the form of a pond, creek, or stump holes, waterholes can still act as a strong attraction to wildlife.

In the past, we have dug natural water holes in or around the edges of fields and in timber. However, we struggled to get these natural sites to hold water, due to the porous soils and or rocky dirt, allowing the water to leach through. These muddy banks are perfect breeding ground for gnats and midges, that carry and transmit EHD. EHD stands for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. It is a viral disease that is transmitted by the bite of a midge and often leads to the death of the deer.

In an effort to limit this muddy habitat and water loss, we have used plastic tubs in the past. This ensured that the locations will sufficiently hold water and keep the majority of water from contacting the dirt. Again, reducing the likelihood of mud and the associated issues. The problem with the available tubs is that these tubs have straight walls along the sides. These walls become slippery, trapping small animals in the tub and often cause them to drown. Even with the addition of sticks and rocks in the tubs, to provide escape routes for these animals, something will still cause the stick to fall or rock to be unusable.

At PWM, we have also found that many of the plastic tubs currently available on the market, are unnatural looking and seem out of place in the wild. Deer certainly will use them more and move over time, however there is definitely an adjustment period for the deer to become comfortable.

Fortunately, we have found the perfect product to address all these issues. This includes natural and manmade waterholes. We partnered with a company called Deer Ponds, that makes fiberglass waterholes. This product checked all the boxes, when considering the wildlife managers checklist. This product is natural looking and blends into the landscape perfectly. The shape is designed to capture rain water efficiently while at the same time having a raised lip around the edge of the pond. This design assists in preventing the water from touching the dirt, and causing mud.

Additionally, it has sloped sides that are coated with an abrasive material, allowing any sized animal to easily walk in and out of the pond. This is the best water retention product I have seen and we are proud to sale, ship, and install, Deer Ponds.