Oh, Deer
Many people believe that late fall and winter are times of scarcity for wildlife, which may prompt them to leave feed out for deer. The reality is that local wildlife is well-adapted to our climate and capable of surviving without our help. In fact, feeding deer can be harmful to them by enticing them to cross roads and increasing risk of collisions with vehicles. Feeding also allows unnaturally large populations of deer to survive in a single area. This makes deer more vulnerable to disease and predators; it also makes them more aggressive and competitive with each other for food. In some cases, deer may become dependent on humans for food and lose their natural survival instincts.
Viewer Tip: Please don’t feed the deer. Instead, allow them to make use of natural habitat. Native grasses, shrubs and trees will provide deer with access to high-quality browse foods like buds, twigs and seeds. Evergreens provide shelter from wind, rain, snow and other adverse weather conditions.
Season: Winter
This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. Learn more: www.gwf.org.
(Source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Department & University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. “More Harm Than Good.” Pamphlet.)
