CODY–  A winter message from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department—please do not feed the deer.

 “Supplemental feeding of big game, especially during periods of winter stress, is at times an appropriate response—most notably when and where ancestral winter habitat has been lost or severely degraded,” said Gary Brown, Cody Region wildlife supervisor. “However, feeding deer in urban settings can be counterproductive to the overall well-being of the herd.”

 In many towns throughout Wyoming, urban deer numbers have increased, due in part to rural subdivisions encroaching upon winter ranges. “As our communities expand and grow, so do our urban deer problems, “ Brown said. These problems range from property damage such as destroyed vegetable gardens, flowerbeds, and new shrub plantings, to pet injuries and deer-vehicle collisions.

 “Supplemental feeding of urban deer in the winter exacerbates these problems,” Brown said. He noted that by providing opportunities for deer to obtain birdseed, field corn, or other supplemental food items, deer could become accustomed to humans and transportation corridors, which changes their natural behavior. “Feeding urban deer may also have the effect of increasing the deer population in a community, which can often create conflict between neighbors, those who like to feed and those who do not want deer around at all, ” Brown added. 

 Brown cited another very important reason not to feed urban deer—mountain lions. “Mountain lions feed primarily on deer and they are active year-round. Houses, garages, shrubbery, and even parked vehicles make great stalking cover for mountain lions. If you intentionally feed deer to purposefully keep them around your home, the chances of attracting mountain lions into your neighborhood increases," said Brown.

 “I truly believe that many people have nothing but good intentions when they feed deer and probably never consider the unintended consequences of their actions,” Brown said.