Should we be feeding wildlife?
I recently had a question about feeding wildlife, in particular deer. I thought I'd share my response for the benefit of the community. The NC Wildlife Commission discourages feeding wildlife for a few different reasons.
- Most food that is advertised for deer is not considered healthy for them and can lead to dehydration, diarrhea and foundering hooves.
- Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) can be spread when deer exchange saliva on shared food sources.
- By feeding deer instead of letting them find food naturally we teach them to lose their fear of humans, which can lead to conflicts with humans and pets that otherwise wouldn't have happened.
- Feeding Deer can also draw in other wildlife that may have an impact on you and your neighbors homes like mice, rats and raccoons.
Additional Resources:
http://ncwildlife.org/.../Mam.../Is-Feeding-Deer-Harmful.pdf
