Deer Feeding in Winter
by Eric Peterson
EVERY
YEAR DEER DIE OF STARVATION IN A HAYSTACK.
WHY IS THAT?
DEER
ARE ADAPTED FOR A HIGH QUALITY BROWSE DIET.
GRAIN BASED FEEDS ARE LOW IN PROTEIN. GRASS HAYS ARE ARE LOW IN PROTEIN. THEY ARE CATTLE FEEDS AND AREN'T WELL SUITED
TO A DEER'S REQUIREMENTS.
FILL
A DEER'S BELLY WITH FEED WHICH DOESN'T MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND
YOU DOOM THEM TO STARVATION.
LET
THEM FEND FOR THEMSELVES AND THEY WILL GATHER THE NUTRITION THE REQUIRE - OR
MOVE TO WHERE THEY CAN FIND IT.
THE
BIOLOGISTS WILL TELL YOU NOT TO FEED DEER.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY ARE PREJUDICED AGAINST DEER. THEY ARE LOOKING AFTER THE DEER'S BEST
INTEREST. IT'S BEST TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO
STAY A PART OF THE NATURAL WEB OF LIFE, SEEKING OUT THE HIGH QUALITY FORAGE
THEY ARE ADAPTED TO LIVE ON.
ENJOY
WATCHING DEER BROWSING - IT'S MORE FASCINATING THAN WATCHING THEM CHOW DOWN
FROM A FEED BUNK.
FROM
THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, I'M ERIC PETERSON.