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Don't feed: Help keep wildlife wild |
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January 23, 2017 |
By Wayne Wakkinen
IDFG Regional Wildlife Manager
As the snow piles up, we get reports from the
public that deer and elk have come down from the
mountains and are looking hungry. Some think
feeding deer and elk will help the animals
survive the rough winter months.
They don’t understand why Fish and Game is
reluctant to start a feeding program. But there
are good reasons to be cautious about feeding
wildlife.
Wild animals are well-adapted to survive most
winters around here. If animals are in good
condition going into winter, they will be able
to survive even with cold temperatures and deep
snow. Although people have good intentions and
only want to help, feeding can lead to problems
that result in a higher death rate than if
nothing is done.
Here are some good reasons to hold off on
providing food for deer and elk:
* Predation: Feeding sites can attract predators, such as mountain
lions, because deer or elk are concentrated and
found in the same spot every day. Without
feeding, animals are more spread out and it is
harder for the predator to predict where
potential prey may be. Feeding can also bring
predators closer to your house, possibly
resulting in the loss of family pets.
* Disease: Animals that are concentrated at a feed site can pass
infectious diseases among themselves rapidly,
resulting in more sick animals than if feed is
not provided. Eye and respiratory infections and
more common in animals gathered at feeding
sites.
* Digestive Problems: Deer and elk digestive systems are set up to
digest food differently throughout the year.
Changing from natural to supplemental high
quality feed can result in problems like
diarrhea, especially in younger animals.
* Younger animals lose out: Older, stronger animals may dominate
feed sites, leaving fawns and calves with little
to eat. Once adults have fed, they’re content
and don’t take their young to find other food.
* Seasonal movement patterns: Providing artificial feed can change
seasonal movement patterns. Animals that would
normally move to summer range might choose to
stay at your feed site and start causing
problems by feeding on shrubs around your house.
You may be stuck with these animals throughout
the year!
Most people feel like they are able to help the
deer and elk by feeding throughout the winter.
We hope this article points out there is a
downside to providing supplemental feed for wild
animals in the winter.
Please don’t feed and help keep the wildlife
wild!
For more information on this topic,
click here. |
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