MNR asks public not to feed the deer

News Release
MNR

The Ministry of Natural Resources reminds people that it is not necessary to feed local deer this winter.
There is good natural food available this winter, such as twigs and foliage. Deer change their behaviour in winters as the snow deepens, moving into thicker forests and relying upon established trails to move to and from feeding areas.
The ministry asks people not to feed deer because:
Using the wrong feed can result in digestive problems. 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 them. This can result in poor reproduction, smaller fawns, and ultimately, higher winter mortality rates.
Feeding deer can increase the risk to deer. 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 increases the risk of disease transmission between animals. 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 people stop artificial feeding, deer can die from the resulting stress. In areas where natural food is plentiful, supplemental feeding may do more harm than good.
White-tailed deer numbers are very high in northwestern Ontario, and their range has expanded substantially in recent decades. Deer are at the northern limit of their range in northwestern Ontario, and their populations are expected to fluctuate in response to winter weather conditions. Feeding deer is not required, and as always, it is best to keep wildlife wild.