Don't feed the deer

Ministry of Natural Resources
Media Release

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The Ministry of Natural Resources is encouraging the public not to feed local deer this winter.

There is sufficient natural food available this winter, such as twigs and foliage that deer can easily reach due to the lack of snow and unseasonably high temperatures we have experienced this winter thus far.

The ministry would also like to remind the public not to feed deer because:

· Improper feed can result in digestive problems;


· Feeding may encourage more deer in an area in which habitat can’t support them. This can result in poor reproduction, smaller fawns, and ultimately, higher winter mortality rates.

· A concentration of deer around artificial feeders can attract predators and poachers. It can also increase the risk of deer being hit on the roads as they travel to feeders. Concentrating deer also increases the risk of disease transmission between animals.

Deer are designed to store fat and successfully process that fat in the winter, adding natural foods as needed. If deer become dependent on artificial feed their metabolic rate increases and they need even more food. Stress resulting from when artificial feeding stops can have serious implications on the deer such as death.

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