Winter Deer Feeding - Consider

8/3/2019 Winter Deer Feeding - Consider

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Winter Deer Feeding - Consider an Alternative Solution

It's a very cold night with a full moon and stars overhead. I'm thinking aboutdeer and I sometimes wonder how they survive in this beautiful but harsh

environment. And while I realize they are born into it, I know that there'ssomething that concerns me that's just not right. There can be deep crustysnow and bitter cold weather, but that's not it; there are predatory wolvesout there, but that's not it either....

I'm thinking about the needless loss of deer I saw last year and I know thatwhat's concerning me is something else now in the deer's world - man.

And while man isn't a predator, and may in fact intend goodwill to the deer,he has a practice that I seriously question - that of "winter deer feeding".

A practice that I feel is not needed and definitely not in the best interest ofthe deer.


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Several years ago, a herd of over a dozen deer stayed on the north-westshore of our lake. Cottager's returning in the Spring saw ground hemlockwith no needles; ornamental trees stripped of their greenery; gardens dugup; and cedar trees severely browsed.

What is interesting was that herd of over a dozen deer was not fed byanyone and all the deer survived a brutal winter without any deaths !

My own experience from watching the deer that winter helped meunderstand why people feed - the deer are absolutely fascinating to watchand they provide a winter past time. People I know who feed deer agree withme and they also add that perhaps they are helping the deer by feedingthem. And frequent visitors to their properties are often named.

In wondering if it's legal to feed deer, I did some research and found outthat in the Province of Ontario, there is currently no provincial legislation ineffect that is enforceable by either the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR)or the Ontario Provincial Police to prevent people from feeding deer nearhighways. But given the absence of that legislation, there are now somemunicipalities in North Western Ontario that have enacted bylaws to stoppersonal deer feeding.

Those municipalities are acknowledging that feeding deer is harmful to deerand are trying to stop motor vehicle collisions with deer.

Feeding deer on your property may seem like an innocent and generousactivity, but in reality it is not. In fact there are serious consequences:

Deer will travel great distances to get to food, often crossing highways.

This means accidents waiting to happen and last year, there were severalcar related deer deaths in my area. The deer were either killed by cars orinjured to the point that they couldn't escape predation.

Feeding attracts a concentration of wolves that will kill deer on the paths

leading to and from a feeding area.

Feeding concentrates the deer, and can lead to habitat overeating and

aggression. Feeding the wrong kind of food, can cause digestiveproblems, leading possibly to death. Because the deer are concentratedat feeders, there is also a high risk of parasitic infestation and disease.


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Deer adapt to winter survival by reducing their activity and actually

reducing their food intake. This causes a reduction in the deer'smetabolism which means less energy is required to sustain the deer.Introducing artificial foods, which tends to increase the deer's

metabolism, causes an increase in the deer's energy demands. This canbe detrimental to their survival should there not be enough food for themor should they have inadequate fat supplies.

Observations conducted by the Minden MNR since 2001 indicate that deer

have all but abandoned the area's largest traditional winter yarding areasin Hindon Township and have migrated to areas where people are activelywinter feeding along the Highway 35 corridor from Halls Lake to GullLake, increasing the liklihood of motor vehicle accidents and perhapsincreasing the liklihood of deer falling through thin ice on lakes whileattempting to get to feeders . To me, that means there could be othereffects on the deer: they will lose the protection of their yards in cold andinclement weather; their demographics will change and indeed they mayeventually face genetic changes; and they will develop a dependency onman that will fail them when he moves away or stops feeding them.

To learn more about the consequences of winter deer feeding, you can findinformation by doing Google searches on the "perils of winter deer feeding".And you can also go to the following excellent web sites hosted by the MNR:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/289999.html

and

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/277348.html

People must realize that deer are wild animals that will find food and survivein the bush under normal winter conditions. The deer do not have to be fedand are best left to find their own food and fend for themselves.

If the winter should become so severe as to threaten deer survival, help isavailable under the auspices of the MNR.


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The MNR has a program in place in Ontario to implement emergency deerfeeding. Within this program, MNR Districts will focus on creating andmaintaining trails in core wintering areas so that deer can move more freelyand have more access to natural food sources. The correct deer food can

also be provided. If additional resources are needed, the MNR can involvelocal Fish and Game Clubs as well as draw upon it's partner - the OntarioFederation of Anglers and Hunters.

In order to monitor the severity of our winters, the MNR has stations acrossOntario where snow conditions are monitored. And while it's Bancroft Districthas several stations, two are located locally; one station at Haliburton Lakeand one station in Hindon Township, south of Highway 118.

With the ongoing monitoring and the above program in existence, peopleneed not be individually concerned about deer access to proper food. Whenthe winter is deemed threatening to the deer, the MNR will declare anemergency deer feeding situation and take action.

Given that there are so many negative factors and risks involved in thefeeding of deer; and given that the MNR monitors winter severity and willactivate a program to help the deer when needed; it makes no sense forman to feed deer on his property and endanger deer herds.

When the weather becomes severe, clubs, groups, and individuals can betterhelp the deer by contacting their local MNR District office to verify the

severity of the winter and volunteer their assistance in alternative solutions.

Technical information in this article has been generously provided by GerryMoraal, Area Biologist, of the MNR Minden Area Office. You may contact himat (705) 286-5226, if you have any questions on winter deer feeding.

Mike

Mike GrinnellHaliburton

Disclaimer

This article is published by me as a service to my readers and other interested parties. It is based on my ownfindings and interpretations. No scientific validation has been performed. No one should act upon comments madewithout considering the facts of specific situations and/or consulting appropriate professional advisors.

I assume no responsibility for errors or omissions and will not accept liability of any nature whatsoever that maybe suffered by use of the information contained in this article.

2012


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Winter Deer Feeding - Consider