Deer like to eat from my bird feeders. Can I still feed the birds?
Deer like to eat from my bird feeders. Can I still feed the birds?
Feeding the birds is a legal and enjoyable way to experience nature in your backyard. However, bird feeders can be an attractive source of food for deer as well. Even the unintentional feeding of deer is illegal under current NYS environmental laws, and eating bird seed can lead to serious health issues for deer. There have even been cases of birdseed resulting in deer death from Rumen Acidosis or other digestive issues (Central Oregon Daily News, 2020). So how can we continue to enjoy our bird feeders without inadvertently feeding deer as well? The following suggestions from the Michigan Department of Natural resources can help!
Use feeders that make it hard for deer to access the food. These include tube feeders, cage-style suet feeders, and hopper-style feeders. Avoid platform and fly-through feeders, as these provide easy access to deer.
Use feeds that birds enjoy, but deer do not prefer. These include thistle seed, suet, and hummingbird nectar. Corn, sunflower seeds, and commercial seed mixes are much more likely to attract deer!
Only put out as much food as the birds will eat in a day. Deer tend to come in the mornings and evenings, and are less likely to be attracted to an empty feeder.
Place feeders at least 6 feet off the ground so they are less accessible to deer.
Place feeders close to the windows of your home. Studies show this is safer for birds - reducing the risk of window strikes. It also has the benefit of making the feeders less attractive to deer, which may be too wary to approach the house that closely.
If you have a dog, place the feeders in the area where the dog spends the most time. Birds generally habituate to the presence of a dog, but deer are likely to keep their distance.
Place a fence around your yard (8-10 feet is the recommended height to deter deer), or place mesh fencing at least 4 feet high surrounding your bird feeders. If the area fenced is too small for deer to jump into, the shorter fence will prevent deer from reaching the feeders.
Keep the area under your feeders clean! This can be most easily done by purchasing a mess-free feeder, or hanging a platform under the feeder to catch food that is dropped. If using a platform, make sure to clean it out every evening to prevent food from accumulating and attracting deer!
References:
Central Oregon Daily News, 2020. Birdseed kills deer in Bend backyard; prompts reminder to not feed wild animals in the city. Accessed at https://centraloregondaily.com/%E2%96%B6%EF%B8%8F-birdseed-kills-deer-in-bend-backyard-prompts-reminder-to-not-feed-wild-animals-in-the-city/
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Michigan Audubon, n.d. Bird Feeding Tips in areas with deer baiting and feeding bans. Accessed at https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/WLD/Deer/bird_feeding_tips.pdf?rev=66a02443ce124173ba02495306735ad3