HLRGazette Archives

Oh Deer #3

FEEDING THE DEER
I agree that having a few deer wandering through the woods makes a picturesque scene here at Holly Lake, and, what better way to get those deer posing for that Kodak moment than to scatter some food out for them. But are we feeding the deer what is best for their health? There are all types of foods, supplements, vitamins and minerals available for white-tailed deer and you can spend from a little to a lot. If you are truly interested in the health of the ecosystem and the wildlife here at Holly Lake, you will do your due diligence and make correct decisions.
DIET OF HEALTHY DEER
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are herbivores, eating both woody (trees and shrubs) and herbaceous (wildflowers, grasses, etc.) vegetation. White-tailed deer prefer forbs. These are what most people call "weeds." These species of plants offer deer the most complete nutrition of any plants available in this area. In areas with large oaks, acorns can make up a substantial part of the fall diet. Their secondary food is browse. This portion of their diet is the leaves and tender stems of various woody plants. Browse helps them make it through the winter or during times forbs are not available.
The last resort food is grasses and undesirable woody plants. Deer cannot digest mature grasses and can actually starve to death with a full stomach of these plants. Biologists refer to this category of food as "stuffer" plants. These are either low in protein or the deer cannot extract the protein available in these plants. A deer's diet depends to a great extent on the season. Farm crops, if available, can comprise a large portion of a deer's yearly diet.
CORN IS NOT THE BEST FOOD FOR DEER
What about all that corn sold as "deer corn" at every local outlets? Deer corn could be called "deer candy." Here is a good analogy: if you eat Twinkies and Ho-Hos for dinner then deer corn is OK for the deer. But, if you believe deer (like people) should benefit from what they eat, then corn is not a good food choice. Corn ranks very low for nutritional value. Corn, which is high in carbohydrates, only has 6% protein versus what the deer need, a 16 to 20% protein food. Thus, corn, makes the deer prone to munching the high cost and high protein (which they need) shrubs in our yards. Aflatoxin is also present in much of the corn sold for "deer corn." This toxin is produced by a fungus and is present in corn which is grown under stress. Consumption of the contaminated corn can make animals ill and die. What should we be feeding? Most feed stores will have a good 16 to 20% sheep and goat pellet which is an excellent supplement. There are also "wildlife" pellets available but they tend to be more expensive and no better than the sheep/goat pellets. Different deer food and mineral supplements should be considered given certain times of the year such as harsh winter weather, drought, breeding and post-rut exhaustion. Two of a deer's biggest nutritional deficiencies are often minerals and protein, the building blocks of antlers and muscles. Food supplements that contain extra protein, ground minerals formulated with the highest-quality chelated minerals and vitamins ensure deer have what they need in their diets to grow strong bodies. Chelated minerals are the most digestible form of minerals available. Chelation is a process that happens naturally in a deer's digestive tract, but as deer age, their ability to chelate minerals diminishes. Use these nutritional supplements to attract deer to your property and then give them the diet they need to grow. Supplements and wildlife food can be bought at most any feed store, Atwoods' and Cabelas.
HOW TO FEED DEER
Deer food should never be poured on the ground. Feeding on the ground leads to parasite infestation. Always place the pellets in several clean, shallow feeding trays or bowls that are spaced several feet apart. This will allow everyone to eat and keep two or three deer from hogging all the food. Feeding should be at a rate of one to two cups per head per day. Twice daily (splitting the ration between a morning and evening feeding) is a good way for distribution. Remember, you should only supplement their natural diet - - - not fill them up on corn or pellets.
The American Lyme Disease Foundation reports there is an environmentally friendly deer feeding station developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service. This station can reduce tick populations by up to 77%, according to a new study. Ticks can carry diseases that infect humans and animals alike. The blacklegged tick is a known vector of Lyme disease, and the lone star tick transmits the pathogen that causes human monocytic ehrlichiosis. This patented feeder, called the "4-Poster" Deer Treatment Bait Station, is kind of nifty. It uses four paint rollers to apply tick killer to the head, neck, and ears of deer as they eat feed placed in the feeding tray. Tick counts in some areas showed that the treatment annually achieved at least a 77 percent control of both tick species, compared to pretreatment years. These types of deer stations may be the best alternative to traditional outdoor treatments for ticks, which require the application of pesticides across large areas.
So, if feeding the deer is your choice, do the right thing. Do some research, purchase the best food supplements and feed correctly. The deer will be happy, you will be happy and those with gardens will be happy. Ann Reynolds