Don't Feed Those Wild Deer

Many cities and towns in the North Country haveseriousness and respects you are doing a great
many what could be considered still natural areas thatdisservice to these deer and indeed may be putting
support white tailed deer. Urban deer populationsthem in great risk further on in time.
benefit from abundant food and shelter. They haveWhy would feed ordinary deer be a disservice to
few natural predators and bylaws usually prohibit thedeer populations and indeed put them into risk later?
hunting of local deer within the city or municipal areas.First of all feeding deer especially during the
Some people consider them wonderful and a joyouswintertime season maintains artificially high deer
sight to see while others consider the local deer apopulations. This can make the deer themselves
pest. In some locales - such as at the Winnipegmore susceptible to starvation and disease that might
Manitoba international airport deer can be considerednot have occurred ordinarily without your feeding of
a serious pest in terms of safety when it comes tothe deer.
blocking airport runways and created a natural orDeer are very intelligent creatures. They quickly learn
what might be considered an unnatural hazard andand become accustomed to food handouts and
hazards to the arriving aircraft on the long runwaysespecially friendly food handouts from such fine
of the Winnipeg Canada airport.people as you. It can be said that deer fed by
While deer can sometimes and often damagehumans, lose their fear of humans amazingly quickly
shrubbery, gardens, ornamental and fruit trees as welland with speed. This puts both the deer and people
as damage both private and public properties, they(who may not have fed the deer themselves) at
normally are only considered a nuisance except ofgreater risk. It is amazing to note, that another
course if they do wander on those runways or ontoperson who takes the time to approach a tamed
roads where they can cause considerable damage todeer rather easily, and then does not feed the deer
both vehicles on the road and highways and ofrisks the ire of the animal. Imagine a dog or cat
course to the poor deer as well.accustomed to be given a reward of food getting
What are basic rules, steps and procedures when itagitated and angry when no food handout is in order.
comes to observing and to a great extent livingImagine then a much larger and generally aggressive
peaceably and in harmony with other these deer -wild animal in such a situation. Not a good idea overall
who are other members of nature?for some hapless human in the wrong place at the
First and foremost make a solid rule never to feedwrong time thinking how cute it would be get close
these deer. It is more than singly important thatto what they consider to be almost a household
people do not feed the deer. Deer can find naturaldomesticated pet - though in this case a still very
food sources and can amazingly survive most well,large still wild deer.
when left simply alone. You may think that you areIf there is one simple message in dealing with white
being a sport and helping the deer with a handout oftail deer who just happen to live in your area that is
food, or food left out for these fine animals. In alldon't feed the deer.