Deer may need emergency feeding

By The AP
Monday, January 17, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY — Wildlife officials monitoring deer for a possible emergency feeding program are warning people to avoid feeding the animals themselves.

KSL TV says that emergency feeding is currently needed only in localized areas.

The big game coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Anis Aoude, says most deer herds have not reached a critical stage for food supply.

She says that people who feed the deer can cause problems for the animals.

The digestive systems of deer are complex and if a deer’s diet is suddenly changed, it can lead to overeating.

Aoude says it is common for deer to die with full stomachs.

Feeding deer can also concentrate the herd and spread disease more quickly.