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In tneir natural state, deer are wild animals that have a fear of humans. However, when deer are fed by people, they lose this fear, becoming less wild and often semi-domesticated.' Fed deer are often emboldened to seek human foods, leading them into conflict with people. Despite their gentle appearance, they can become lethally dangerous during mating season and are capable of goring and slashing with their sharp hooves and antlers.
The increase in deer feeding that has taken place in Virginia over the past decade represents one of Virginia’s biggest wildlife disease risk factors. According to VDGIF Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jonathan Sleeman, deer feeding sets the stage for maintaining and facilitating the spread of disease. Feeding deer can lead to the prolonged crowding of animals in a small area, resulting in more direct animalto-animal contact and contamination of feeding sites. Deer feeding has been implicated as a major risk factor and contributor in the three most important deer diseases in North America today. These include tuberculosis, brucellosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD).
Fortunately, none of these diseases have been found in deer in Virginia, although CWD is present in West Virginia.
Anyone who sees or suspects someone of illegally feeding deer before January, or observes any wildlife violations, he or she may report it to the Department’s Wildlife Crime Line at 1 (800) 287-5712.
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