Feeding Deer

**Pam** · 08-21-2007, 08:13 AM

What an excellent article! Thank you for that! In years past I would feed birds (cardinals mostly) through the winter months. I was told that once I start feeding them I must not forget because there are birds that will not migrate south if they have a food source up here. When I took that task on I kept it up through the winter even though it was quite cold going out to that feeder in the snow. I surely don't want to create problems for my two little deer friends so I will leave them alone as hubby said. Thanks again!

**pitc9** · 08-21-2007, 08:31 AM

I can understand how tempting it would be to feed those deer, (we're all suckers for all animals are we not!) but it sounds like they need to find a better place to spend the winter and I'm sure they will.

**Pam** · 08-21-2007, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by pitc9

(we're all suckers for all animals are we not!)

Yes we are!

I have tried and tried to get a picture of them but they are there early in the morning (6:00ish) and it is just too dark for my camera. Of course then my camera uses the flash to try and compensate but it doesn't work. I can't illuminate my whole yard with my little camera.

At this point the deer are probably thinking...."there she goes again with that flashy thing." They pay no attention to me at all any more.

**ramanth** · 08-21-2007, 10:23 AM

For my parents it's the opposite. Dad puts out feed corn for the deer in the winter but doesn't feed them in the summer. They must forage on their own in the summer because they never come looking for handouts.

We only see them in the winter.

**Pam** · 09-06-2007, 07:38 AM

The deer continue to appear in my yard behind the fence. Today we had a BIG surprise - instead of two, now there are three.

The third one appears to be very young. Do deer have baby deer at this time of year? Now I will surely worry about them this winter. Just yesterday I was in Walmart and noticed they sell *Deer Corn.* I had to force myself not to buy it because it is my natural instinct to feed critters. Oh I hope all of them make it through the winter. *sigh*

**sasvermont** · 09-06-2007, 07:45 AM

I didn't read the article, but suspect it says just that, don't feed them.

It is so tempting. I don't feed the birds in the summer, only the winter, as I know I would be feeding the other critters all summer too!

Be strong. Deer are tough and can survive the harshest of winters. The ones that do not survive are meant to be part of the food chain. The thought of Bambi starving to death is not a good thought, but it is part of their birth control too.

Ugh.

**moosmom** · 09-06-2007, 08:05 AM

I went to Key West Florida one year with my best friend and saw my first "key" deer. Florida law prohibits you from feeding or touching them. They come right up to your car at night, so close you can pet them. It was SOOOO tempting, so I know exactly how the temptation can get to you.

Thank you for caring about them.