Don't feed the deer in the winter

The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is reminding people that it is not necessary to feed local deer during the winter.

There is good natural food available this year, such as twigs and foliage. Deer change their behaviour in winter as the snow deepens, moving into thicker forests and relying upon established trails to move to and from feeding areas.

The ministry is asking people not to feed deer for a number of reasons, including: • Using the wrong feed can result in digestive problems for the animals. People may inadvertently do more harm than good through improper feeding practices. • Feeding may encourage more deer in an area than the habitat can support. This can result in poor reproduction, smaller fawns, and, ultimately, higher winter mortality rates. • Deer-vehicle collisions often occur as deer cross roads to and from feeders. Deer that come to feeders may lose their natural fear of humans and become a nuisance in summer gardens. • A concentration of deer around artificial feeders can tempt natural predators of deer, such as wolves, to change their natural habits and come closer to populated areas. • Concentrating deer in an area increases the risk of disease transmission. Although Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has not been found in Ontario, there are concerns that encouraging concentrations of deer increases the risk and speed of disease transmission. In other areas of North America where CWD is a concern, concentrating deer at feeding stations is discouraged.

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. When artificial feeding stops, deer can die from the resulting stress. In areas where natural food is plentiful, supplemental feeding may do more harm than good.