Think Twice Before Feeding Deer This Winter—Experts Explain Why

As the temperature plummets and snow blankets the ground, it’s hard not to feel sorry for wildlife exposed to the elements, including deer. With their large eyes, black noses, and fuzzy ears, deer are often a welcome sight on dreary winter days. Yet, while it may be tempting to attract them to your yard by putting out food for them this winter, here are six reasons why that’s a bad idea, according to several wildlife experts.

1. Deer Don't Need Extra Food in Winter

“Keep in mind that deer have evolved to live in areas that have harsh winters and they have a variety of adaptations to survive those winters,” says Becky Fuda, deer project leader at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. Deer put on extra fat in the fall and grow a winter coat with long guard hairs for insulation. They also eat a high-fiber diet in the winter, which primarily consists of twigs and bark on trees and shrubs. Plus, they reduce their movement and metabolism, lowering their nutritional needs. “They’ve evolved to deal with these winters; they don’t need people’s help,” Fuda adds.

2. Grain Is Dangerous to Deer in Winter

Grains like corn are high in carbohydrates, while deer naturally eat high-fiber foods in winter. If deer suddenly switch from eating twigs and bark to grain, such as corn, it can cause “corn toxicity,” a condition that causes their stomachs to produce harmful amounts of acid, leading to bloating, diarrhea, dehydration, and even death. Erin Larson, deer herd health specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, notes that deer that develop corn toxicity can be dead within six to ten hours after consuming grain.

3. It Can Spread Diseases

Artificial feeding also concentrates wildlife unnaturally, increasing disease risk. This can be a major concern in areas with Chronic Wasting Disease, says Fuda. This disease is a deadly neurological malady that can spread among deer, elk, and moose populations though contact with saliva, blood, urine, or feces. When infected deer congregate at an artificial feeding site, they could easily infect other deer that visit the same site. “It’ll facilitate more rapid transmission of disease,” says Fuda.

4. Deer May Become Aggressive

Feeding deer can also make them more aggressive toward one another. When people put out corn, it often attracts more deer than the food can sustain and is quickly consumed by the most aggressive deer, says Travis Lau, communications director at the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This means that smaller and less aggressive deer, such as fawns, might be left with nothing, increasing their risk of starvation. “A lot of people that place food out think the wildlife needs a boost, but it can create additional problems,” notes Lau.

5. Feeding Can Habituate Deer to Humans

Feeding deer can also put them in more direct contact with humans and residential areas, which often goes poorly for both deer and humans. When deer are fed by people, they start associating people with food, instead of fearing them, says Lau. “Deer’s fear of people keeps deer safe from people,” he explains.

Luring deer into residential areas can also create other problems. Deer in residential areas are more likely to wander across roads, which can make them more prone to being hit by cars, says Larson.   Deer drawn into residential areas will also start gobbling up ornamental landscaping, says Fuda, which is something no gardener wants.

6. It May Be Against the Law

In many places, it’s also illegal to feed deer. Anti-feeding regulations can vary by state, so check with your local natural resources agency to determine if any regulations are in place where you live, says Larson. Counties and local municipalities can also enact their own rules, so check those too, she suggests. 

Because there are so many downsides to feeding deer, experts strongly recommend refraining from doing so. Instead, you can support deer and other wildlife in your area through the winter in more positive ways.

“A property of any size can be improved for wildlife,” says Lau. Try planting native trees and shrubs, which don’t carry the same risks as artificial feeding, should deer browse on them. In larger yards, you can create brush piles in out-of-the-way spots to provide cover and protection from the elements.