A Feeding Frenzy

When will the madness stop?

I'm sorry but this has been weighing on my mind for way too long. As a wildlife biologist, the tremendous growth in deer feeders and supplemental feeding of wildlife concerns the snot outta me. I guarantee this will not be popular for some but it simply needs to be said.

Wildlife DO NOT NEED supplemental feed.

It is a gimmick of feed companies, an extremely effective marketing ploy to hook gullible sportsmen and concerned citizens in believing they are doing something good for the animals they feed.

They are not.

And it may even be worse than not helping wildlife. In some cases, it may actually harm them. Sad but true. Imagine being able to sell a product that not only doesn't do what it claims but may actually do the opposite? Talk about an award-winning marketing strategy. 

How so?

Let me start by saying we are talking about WILD animals, not livestock. Research simply doesn't support the need for supplemental feed. In fact, there has been more research demonstrating the negative impacts from supplemental feed on wildlife than positive. I know of no current scientific studies that demonstrate added benefits of supplemental feed in free-ranging animals.

On the contrary, numerous studies demonstrate a plethora of negative impacts, increased disease transmission and increased predation on birds just to name a few. Is it any wonder why some folks are wondering why some turkey populations are floundering? I know it may not be the only cause for localized turkey decline but I promise you this, setting up a corn feeder and ringing a dinner bell for predators or potentially introducing aflatoxin to your turkeys flock certainly doesn't help. Do you think creating predator ambush points for does and fawns similarly helps your deer herd?  

Something to think about...

A key concept to critical thinking includes not only knowing the source of your information, but built in biases each source may bring. This is why hearing all sides of a story is crucial to making wise well-informed decisions. This doesn't happen much in the world of wildlife. In fact, it reminds me of my Red Dog story, the one with the woeful conclusion that "someone told me it's good so it's gotta be good."

Link to: Red Dog and Deer Hunting

Think about this, the Wildlife Society, the professional organization for wildlife biologists, has a position statement on the use of supplemental feed for wildlife and as you can imagine, it adamantly frowns upon its use. In fact, they make tremendous points on it's negative consequences so I strongly encourage everyone to read it.

Link to: Wildlife Society Position Statement (Supplemental Feed)

So this begs the question....

If it is not the biologists who care for the well-being of wildlife, WHO then is encouraging the use of supplemental feed?

Is it the part-time 16-year old sales associate in the hunting aisle of the mega-store that just pointed you to where they sell the bags of deer corn? Or how about it the neighbor or friend or hunting partner who has had little or no training in wildlife management principles whatsoever? Please tell me it wasn't a magazine ad or the person trying to sell you the product? The one who will gladly tell you EXACTLY what you want to hear just so they can get into your pockets. So who did advise you to put out supplemental feed? Please tell me it's not any of the above.

Sobering isn't it?

Here's the good news. You can stop.

Stop trying to take shortcuts.

Stop pouring your money down the drain, or in this case, on the ground.

Stop potentially harming wildlife and actually begin doing good things, primarily through habitat management. This will benefit ALL wildlife, not just deer.

At the very least, become much more knowledgeable on what wildlife needs and truly begin to make a difference. After all, that is what we are all trying to do for wildlife anyway, isn't it?