New Mexico Wildlife - To Feed or Not to Feed…
April 15th, 2008 categories: Community, Mountain Wildlife
Here in the Sacramento Mountains and throughout the Lincoln National Forest, we are so blessed to have a glorious arid climate, over 300 species of wildlife, and a large diversity of habitats for the native animals. Our deer and turkey populations are thriving. I’ve seen more wild turkey this year than I have seen in all my years in the area. Seeing more and more of these magnificent creatures means that the temptation to put the feed out for them increases.
When it comes to mule deer and the cute little fawns wobbling behind their mothers, it’s tempting to want to leave out a snack thinking that surely the extra calories can’t hurt. And who doesn’t like to see beautiful bucks and speckled fawns just outside the front door? What many people don’t realize, however, is that their good intentions can be lethal for the animals they so love to watch.
All creatures are designed to live and die in their natural environments. When the delicate balance of nature is altered in any way, the animal population adjusts. When seasonal home owners in the Ruidoso area decide to add to the normal feeding process of animals in the wild by putting out alfalfa or corn, it can become more of a hazard than a help.
For example, mule deer have very delicate digestive systems. Microbes in the deer’s stomachs adapt to the different species of foods the deer eat during the changing seasons. “If a mule deer suddenly switches its diet from woody plants to high quality alfalfa hay, the microbes in its body do not have time to adjust, and it starves to death with a full stomach. Many a hay-fed mule deer has suffered this fate.”
Corn can also make other animals sick. Not only is it lacking in quality protein, but a silent and deadly mold called aflatoxin grows on the corn when it is (often) improperly stored. Corn is frequently left on the ground during Ruidoso’s rainy or snowy seasons. High amounts of this invisible mold can be lethal, especially to the birds who like to feast on what the deer have missed. If you like to feed the birds, your safest bet is to use feeders.
Another problem that can occur when maintaining “feeding stations” is the un-intentioned spread of disease. When animals congregate, the rate of disease transmittal greatly increases. One of the concerns for mule deer is the spread of tuberculosis and Chronic Wasting Disease.
All in all, feeding the deer can be a bad idea unless you’re here year-round and can provide a high protein diet in the supplemental feed. We have so many great hiking trails and natural environments where you can watch the deer to your heart’s content. After all, we love these creatures and want to keep them healthy and safe for many years to come.
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