Please do not feed the deer!

The Village of Howard has received several complaints and concerns regarding the growing urban deer population. Staff has discussed the issue with the DNR, and the Village Board has considered options for managing the deer population. While there is a consensus as to the cause for the increase in deer population and some options to manage it, the number one recommendation of experts on the issue is for residents to stop feeding them.

While there are a few benefits to feeding deer, the drawbacks are numerous and include:

• Feeding causes wildlife to gather in large numbers to a concentrated spot, lending to the spread of a wide variety of diseases that impact wildlife and domestic pets.
• When prey animals concentrate in large numbers at feed sites, they become targets for gathering predators that otherwise would move through urban areas.
• As more animals find the feed site, they create unnatural wear patterns and damage to natural foliage. When feed sites deplete, deer will turn to gardens and natural landscape.
• Feed sites lead to deer gathering in urban areas that are frequented by vehicular traffic, which leads to an increase in car/deer collisions.
• People normally feed deer corn, which can lead to acidosis in deer as they eat less of natural grasses and appropriate wild food sources.
• Deer feeding sites attract non-target animals, such as turkeys, skunks, raccoons, and opossums.

More information about Village of Howard deer management conversations: