{"id":9085,"date":"2021-06-28T15:54:56","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T15:54:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=9085"},"modified":"2021-06-30T15:33:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T15:33:57","slug":"what-can-you-feed-wild-deer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/what-can-you-feed-wild-deer\/","title":{"rendered":"What Can You Feed Wild Deer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the benefits of sharing a neighborhood with deer<\/a> is being able to see them browsing for food in your backyard. It can be tempting to put food out for them to make sure they keep coming back. Before you start feeding wild deer, make sure you read up on the potential risks, and learn how to feed responsibly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is it Bad to Feed Wild Deer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. It depends on how and what you\u2019re feeding the deer and your geographic location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In many cases, supplemental feeding does more harm than good for wild deer. When homeowners start leaving snacks out in their yard for deer, there can be several unintended consequences. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. It can spread disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Leaving food out for deer could result in groups of deer gathering in your yard. When deer congregate in higher densities than usual, you create a higher risk of the deer spreading harmful diseases to each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chronic Wasting Disease<\/a>, for instance, is a contagious and fatal illness that spreads easily among deer in close proximity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. It causes unnecessary competition<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Large groups of deer who are looking for an easy source of food are likely to compete over it due to their natural social hierarchy. The deer that come out on top are the stronger ones who don\u2019t need the extra food to begin with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. It can make them behave unnaturally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although it can be rewarding to get wild deer to trust you by feeding them, it\u2019s bad for their safety. Deer are naturally scared of humans – as they should be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you take away the instinctual fear, deer might get too comfortable in residential areas. This increases the risk of deer-related car accidents, damage to landscapes, disruption of other wildlife habits, and even aggression towards humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. It contributes to overpopulation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As harsh as it may seem, nature weeds out the weaker animals and controls the deer population on its own. When humans interfere by feeding them, more deer survive than their habitats can accommodate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This video below is an example of a well-intentioned deer feeder<\/a> who may not realize the risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KjgupaL41Z0<\/a>