April 8, 2009
They may seem cute and cuddly, but deer are wild animals and people shouldn't feed them.
That's the message from the Natural Resources Department staff who sees it happen every year.
Department biologist Eric Sullivan said there are many problems that come from people feeding deer and they discourage it.
"You get these unnaturally high densities of the animals in one area." When they gather in large numbers, they compete for food and the dominant animals often push out the weaker ones if there is not enough food.
They can also spread disease more easily in larger groups and by bringing them closer to houses, they are at risk of getting hit by vehicles on the road or getting chased by dogs, he said.
"Generally people are feeding right on the front yards."
Sullivan said although the Natural Resources Department discourages people from feeding wild animals, the department doesn't have a penalty if people do it.
"There's nothing prohibiting them from doing it."
Although some areas are reporting high numbers of road kills this spring, Sullivan said the numbers in the Miramichi are down from last year, in part because of the deeper snow this winter.
"Their mobility was restricted."
But despite the lower number of deer hit by vehicles, they are gathering near communities in the area, he said.
"Deer certainly seem to be congregating around communities more and more."
Renous, Sunny Corner and Blackville are a few of the areas where deer yard naturally, but Sullivan said there are other areas where they are gathering because of people.
"There are hotspots where people are feeding."
Sullivan said the higher concentrations of deer aren't limited to just back roads or the busier highways.
"They're right in the communities whether it's a main road or not."
Transportation Department spokesman Matt Frye said the province has plans in place to help limit the number of wildlife collisions.
Along with cutting brush back from the roads, the government also sets up wildlife fences along roadways to keep animals away.
Despite the measures, the Natural Resources Department reported 3,279 deer were killed in vehicle collisions across the province in 2008 up from 2,685 in 2007.
Frye said the department gets numbers from the RCMP and uses them in part to decide where to put the fences.
"They take the numbers and try to identify hot spots."
But fencing is not always feasible, like in places where there are a lot of driveways the wildlife can just walk around.
"Those are circumstances where you'll see a lot of signage."
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