bird netting. Big boxes carry it, and it's cheap and nearly invisible.

I painted a bunch of small rocks/stones red (Rustoleum spray paint) placed them in and around the strawberry plants, watched the birds dive for them, and TWANG their beaks. By the time the berries were ripe the birds did not bother the real fruits - a "learned response". Sounds silly but it really works. I've found that wild critters have a gene where food once found will always be there (even if they have eaten the thing to below the roots and pawed the ground to China, witness Crabapple trees) and will come back, bring all their friends, and return every single night until they die, whereupon the next several generations will take up the quest ad infinitum. But, that the learned response to "not edible" is passed down, they go find some other thing to bother.

Nancy the nancedar

wow- i will have to try that for all of our fruits, Nan! What a great idea!

Thank you both! Nancy, that is a hoot!

That's great nancy, and visitors to your yard must be amazed you seem to have ever-fruiting strawberries.
I wonder if planting plastic daylily blooms,artificial hosta and silk pansies will thwart the deer? (probably not)

I found the netting was effective if elevated over the plants rather than lying on the plants so birds can't perch and pick through the net.

I use bird netting on my blueberries. One thing to be careful of is that snakes will get caught in it. I have had 2 black racers get caught in my bird netting and strangle themselves. Since the last one was caught, I have had voles and rabbits galore. I am now on the hunt for any snakes. Anyone have any extras they would like to get rid of?