Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which E. coli transfers from deer feces to soils where crops are grown in Ohio.
Methods: Total coliform and E. coli counts were assessed in soil and surface debris samples collected from five areas of a vegetable production field naturally contaminated with deer feces and compared with counts present in soil and debris from the same field away from any visible signs of fecal contamination. Samples were collected again 60 days after feces removal and field fencing and assessed similarly. In separate experiments, fresh deer feces was deposited on soils in vegetable production fields and E. coli counts present in surrounding soils was determined at multiple distances and time intervals.
Results: Initially the soil and surface material from the visually contaminated areas had a higher generic E.coli than the uncontaminated area (P = 0.01). Sixty days later there was no difference in E. coli counts between the soils collected from the two areas (P = 0.35). E. coli counts in soils decreased sharply with distance from point of application (P < 0.05) within the first 30 cm. E. coli counts in soils 1 m away from the point of fecal deposition did not differ significantly from counts 5 m away.
Significance: Remediation of fields contaminated by deer 60 or more days prior to harvest can minimize risk of transfer of microorganisms from feces to soil. Moreover, refraining from harvesting fruits and vegetables within the proposed 5-foot (1.5 m) no-harvest zones around areas of fresh deer fecal contamination may also minimize the risk of transfer of fecal-origin microbial contaminates in soils to produce.