Why is it illegal to feed deer?

Intentional feeding of wild deer was first made illegal in New York State in 2002 in response to the threat of Chronic Wasting Disease. Initially, the primary reason for this regulation was to avoid the large congregations of deer that may be found at feeding sites to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Since that time, additional regulations have been passed to clarify existing deer feeding laws, enhance protection of wildlife habitat, and reduce human-deer conflict (NYSDEC, 2019). The current regulations prohibit both intentional and incidental or indirect feeding of deer. However, the law clarifies that unintentional feeding (such as deer eating from bird feeders) will only be considered a violation if the person responsible has already been issued a written warning. Additionally, the law requires that all commercial deer foods and deer feeding equipment must be labeled with the following statement:

It is illegal to intentionally feed wild white-tailed deer and moose in New York State. Placing this product so that it is accessible to wild deer or moose in New York is presumptive evidence of intent to feed deer or moose. Any person found intentionally feeding this product to wild deer or moose will be subject to prosecution pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 186 (Westlaw, 2021).

Despite the enjoyment many people get from feeding deer, it is important to understand that these laws are put in place to protect people, deer, and other wildlife species. So what are the problems that can occur as a result of feeding deer?

1. Issues with deer health: Feeding deer can contribute to a variety of deer health problems. Deer normally forage alone or in small groups, spreading out to obtain foods which are usually spread across the landscape. Artificial feeding sites, however, attract many deer (and other types of wildlife) to one spot. Contagious diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), distemper, and rabies can be spread through close contact, conflicts over food, and contaminated soil or feed (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 2022).

The types of foods that humans often feed deer also may cause health issues or even death. Deer (and other ungulates) can suffer from a condition known as Rumen Acidosis when they eat large amounts of easily digestible carbohydrates, such as corn, wheat, barley, and even apples. The natural diet of deer is typically high in fiber and low in carbohydrates. When deer eat a lot of carbohydrates, this can cause an increase in the amount of certain types of bacteria in their digestive systems (bacteria that thrive on carbohydrates). These bacteria produce lactic acid, which disrupts the normal pH of the rumen (the first chamber of a deer's stomach). The lactic acid alone can be fatal to deer, but the changes to gut are also very damaging. Fluid can become trapped in the rumen, leading to dehydration. The stomach lining can also become damaged, preventing the absorption of nutrients. Within 24 to 48 hours of ingesting large quantities of carbohydrates, the deer will stop eating and may be standing quietly, staggering, or unable to stand at all. The most severely affected will die within 24 to 72 hours. Rumen Acidosis is often suspected when deer in good body condition are found dead without other apparent causes (Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022).

2. Behavior Changes and Human-Deer Conflict: Feeding deer changes their natural behavior in a number of ways. Deer that are fed by humans often become habituated, meaning that they lose their natural fear of people. Habituated deer are more likely to approach people, spend time in yards and near human structures, and may move around more to visit sites where they are likely to be fed. These changes lead to a variety of problems, for both deer and humans. Habituated deer are more likely to be involved in vehicle collisions or to cause damage to property. In winter, feeding may lure deer out of their natural refuges and cause them to expend extra energy, using up their fat reserves. This can cause deer to lose body condition, and in some cases, to die. Feeding also causes deer to congregate in larger groups than they normally would. Natural food sources for deer are spread out across the landscape, causing deer to stay in fairly small groups to avoid too much competition. When people feed deer, they tend to move into the area where feeding is occurring. These larger group sizes can result in unusually high levels of aggression and stress from competition, which can lower their immune function and make them more susceptible to disease. Additionally, deer lowest in the social hierarchy often waste energy seeking out these food sources, but may not actually get to eat any of it. Finally, deer that are fed may become aggressive toward people (Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2019; Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2007.)

3. Ecological Damage: Over time, feeding deer can lead to unnaturally high populations, exceeding ecological carrying capacity and causing substantial damage to the natural environment. As the deer feed on their preferred plants, they often leave only the few species they prefer not to eat. This changes the habitat for other species, such as birds and small mammals, and leaves the area vulnerable to colonization by invasive plants (Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2007).

References:

Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, 2019. Killing Them With Kindness. Accessed at https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/article/killing-them-kindness#:~:text=Deer%20are%20easily%20habituated%20to,risk%20of%20disease%20transmission%20skyrockets.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 2022. Is Feeding Deer Harmful? Accessed at https://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Mammals/Is-Feeding-Deer-Harmful.pdf

NYSDEC, 2019. DEC Announces Adoption of New Deer and Moose Feeding Regulation (Press Release). Accessed at https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/119082.html

Pennsylvania Game Commission,2007. Please Don't Feed the Deer. Accessed at https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/White-tailedDeer/Documents/feeding_deer.pdf

Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2022. Rumen Acidosis. Accessed at https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/Wildlife-RelatedDiseases/Pages/RumenAcidosis.aspx

Westlaw, 2021. New York Codes, Rules, and Regulations: 6 CRR-NY 186.3. Accessed at https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Document/I22a2cf2b5edd11eaaeb7d0836e132f98?viewType=FullText&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=CategoryPageItem&contextData=(sc.Default