Just days after 20 inches of snow blanketed the ridge, a second storm arrived. We could have another 8 inches by morning.
Such conditions bring out the softie in many of us. We make sure the bird feeders are filled even before we shovel out the driveway.
Feeding the deer?
But what about feeding the deer? They need a little help too, don’t they?
NO, no, no! Do not feed the deer.
So says Jerry Feaser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Jim Crum, deer biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and Dr. Anne Ballmann, veterinarian and wildlife disease specialist for the National Wildlife Health Center.
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And in New York, it’s actually “illegal to feed deer by putting out any material that attracts deer to feed.” Or face a fine of up to $250 and 15 days in jail for each day of the offense.
It’s unanimous among wildlife professionals. Feeding deer is a bad idea. In New York, it’s criminal.
Don’t feed the deer! Corn is what most wildlife lovers offer deer, and even if it’s labeled “deer corn,” feeding corn to deer is about the worst thing you can do. Unless you’re trying to kill the deer.
Feaser points to a PGC brochure, Please Don’t Feed the Deer, which is available at www.pgc.state.pa.us. (Click on the white-tailed deer icon, then “Living with Whitetails.”)
“By late fall, deer instinctively reduce their food intake and continue to do so through most of the winter,” Feaser says. “During that time deer rely heavily on fat reserves and their ability to conserve energy.”
Deer survival. In fact, a 1984 Pennsylvania study found that deer could survive a least a month with no food at all. During winter, deer lose 20 percent or more of their body weight by burning fat reserves. They are well adapted to survive the many stresses that winter presents.
Crum understands that people mean well, but, “I see too many deer on my necropsy table with bellies full of corn.”
Digestion problems
The problem is that deer digestion is a finely tuned physiological process. Just the right combination of microorganisms, enzymes, and pH enable deer to digest a normal winter diet of woody vegetation. When offered a sudden supply of corn, a deer’s digestive system doesn’t have time to adjust to a high carbohydrate diet. The result can be acute acidosis followed by death within 72 hours.
At the time of death these individuals can appear normal and well fed. It’s just that they cannot digest the corn. Within six hours, corn alters the environment in the rumen. It turns the rumen acidic and destroys the microbes needed for normal digestion.
Not all deer die immediately from acidosis. Its effects vary with the age and health of the individual. Some may simply slow down, get clumsy, and become easy prey to speeding traffic and hungry coyotes.
It takes deer two to four weeks of feeding on a new food source to establish populations of microbes necessary to digest the new food. It can’t happen in just a few days during a snowstorm. And healthy individuals that might survive in the short term often succumb to complications weeks later.
Caution
Furthermore, Dr. Ballmann cautions that supplemental feeding “concentrates deer in small areas where a variety of infectious diseases can be spread.” And in traveling to and from a supplemental source of food, deer, especially the young and the old, expend energy they can’t afford to lose.
Feeding deer is never a good idea. I know this runs counter to what many people think, especially those who feed deer. But just because deer don’t die in your backyard doesn’t mean they aren’t dying elsewhere in the woods or on the highway. The worst thing you can do for deer is feed them. Some will starve, and some will fall prey to coyotes, but that’s how healthy populations stay healthy.
Help in other ways
If you really want to help the local deer population, concentrate on habitat improvement. Plant mast-bearing trees and shrubs. Plant a stand of conifers to provide winter cover from wind and snow. And create forest openings to stimulate the growth of the woody browse that sustains deer herds all winter long.
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I'm an avid enthusiast and knowledgeable expert on wildlife management and ecology, particularly in the context of deer populations and their interactions with the environment. My understanding is deeply rooted in both practical experience and academic insights, allowing me to provide valuable information on the complex dynamics at play in ecosystems.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Snow Blanketing and Winter Conditions:
- The article begins by describing a scenario where 20 inches of snow covered the ridge, followed by the anticipation of an additional 8 inches from a second storm. This sets the stage for discussing the challenges wildlife, particularly deer, face during harsh winter conditions.
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Feeding Wildlife in Winter:
- The author addresses the common inclination to provide food for wildlife during winter. This often involves filling bird feeders and, in some cases, contemplating feeding deer due to the perception that they might need assistance in finding food.
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Professional Opinions Against Feeding Deer:
- The article cites experts such as Jerry Feaser of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Jim Crum, deer biologist for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, and Dr. Anne Ballmann, veterinarian and wildlife disease specialist for the National Wildlife Health Center. These authorities unanimously advise against feeding deer.
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Legal Consequences in New York:
- The article mentions that in New York, it is illegal to feed deer, and individuals can face fines and jail time for violating this law.
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Deer Diet and Survival:
- The piece discusses deer instincts to reduce food intake during late fall and winter, relying on fat reserves and energy conservation. A 1984 Pennsylvania study is referenced, indicating that deer can survive for at least a month without food.
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Negative Effects of Feeding Corn:
- Jerry Feaser highlights the dangers of feeding corn to deer, emphasizing that it can be detrimental to their health. The digestive system of deer is finely tuned for a winter diet of woody vegetation, and sudden exposure to corn can lead to acidosis and death.
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Deer Digestion and Acute Acidosis:
- The article explains that the finely tuned physiological process of deer digestion can be disrupted by a sudden supply of corn, leading to acute acidosis and, ultimately, death.
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Long-Term Complications:
- The piece notes that even if some deer may appear normal immediately after consuming corn, complications may arise weeks later, leading to health issues and potential death.
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Caution Against Supplemental Feeding:
- Dr. Anne Ballmann cautions that supplemental feeding can concentrate deer in small areas, increasing the risk of spreading infectious diseases. Additionally, the energy expended by deer traveling to and from supplemental food sources can be detrimental, especially for the young and old individuals.
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Alternative Ways to Help Deer Populations:
- The article concludes by suggesting that if individuals genuinely want to help deer populations, they should focus on habitat improvement, including planting mast-bearing trees and shrubs, creating forest openings, and providing winter cover from wind and snow through conifer stands. This emphasizes a holistic approach to wildlife conservation rather than direct feeding.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of the potential risks and negative consequences associated with feeding deer during winter, drawing on the expertise of wildlife professionals and offering alternative, ecologically sound ways to support deer populations.
