Things are greening up and the birds have returned. Nest building and turf wars are in full swing. And in a few short weeks, overwhelming cuteness will appear in spotted packages on wobbly legs. I have been working on a post about maternal behavior and what it means for those new to the deer world. But that is going to have to wait. Because I became distracted by a headline.
I am passionate about several things. Duane and I share a passion for the use of non-toxic ammunition while hunting. I have regularly advocated for the female segment of the deer population and their overlooked value. The other hill I am willing to die on is feeding. More specifically, that no one should feed deer.
I give a lot of presentations on many topics – to hunters, to students, to the general public – and the message I give in every one of them is “You can forget everything from this presentation except that feeding deer is bad and DO NOT do it.”
Ah feeding, how do I hate thee? Let me count the ways.
I hate thee to the depth and breath and height
My soul can reach…
(My take on Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet)
Yes, I hate feeding or providing any sort of supplement to deer. In short, there is no need for it and it only causes problems – for deer, for people, for habitat, for wildlife.
For deer, the problems are numerous and the biggest is the spread of diseases and conditions like chronic wasting disease, rumen acidosis, and foundering to name a few. Honestly, I could go on and on and on about the harm it causes but I’m trying to keep this brief. If you’d like a list of publications, email the blog and I’ll be happy to send you the MANY links to the research.
There is also the risk of disease beyond deer to other wildlife, people, and pets. Rabies, salmonellosis, toxoplasmosis, P. tenuis, and tapeworms don’t discriminate between raccoons, dogs, goats, or your kids.
Vegetation around feed sites gets hammered because deer don’t stop eating on their way to the trough.
And deer feed isn’t just attractive to deer. Raccoons love it. Rodents love it. Foxes love rodents. And bears love deer. That’s right. Brown bears in Poland visited ungulate feed sites 3 times more frequently than would be expected. Ungulate feeding affected the movement patterns of bears! And there are several studies that demonstrate increased ground nest predation at deer feed sites.
Also do you know what happens when you feed a stray cat or dog? The same thing happens with wildlife. They get used to it. They expect it. That can be disastrous. A captive stag killed the guy who was feeding it. But remember deer aren’t the only ones eating. Racoons are one of the highest rabies risks in the U.S. They are a rabies reservoir in the eastern U.S. extending from Canada to Florida and as far west as the Appalachian range. So when I saw this guy, I nearly LOST MY MIND!
Then when I saw the headline “Hunters Score Victory With Bill That Overrules North Dakota Game and Fish Policy,” it gave me pause.
I knew exactly what bill this was referencing. It states, “The department may not adopt a rule or implement a policy prohibiting or restricting the use of supplemental feed on private property for hunting a big game animal.”
How is limiting the ability of the stewards to safeguard the wildlife resources of North Dakota a “victory” for hunters?
Wildlife is a public resource. This is what sets North America apart from Europe and the king’s deer. Land ownership is one thing, but wildlife belongs to everyone regardless of deed. The Public Trust Doctrine establishes public ownership of wildlife as law. This is the cornerstone of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. To lose sight of this is tragic. Because it sets the stage for the “have’s” and “have nots.” The wants of a few should not come at the expense of the many.
This is not a victory. It’s a blow to everyone. Our wildlife resources are our greatest triumph. Responsible management is the duty of every stewardship agency.
If you can forget everything from this post, remember that FEEDING DEER IS BAD AND DO NOT DO IT.
-Jeannine Fleegle
Wildlife Biologist
PA Game Commission
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