Think tossing corn in your backyard for the neighborhood deer is harmless? Think again. In over 30 Minnesota counties, this seemingly meaningless act is illegal — and for good reason. To slow the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurological illness that affects deer, elk, and moose, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has banned deer feeding and attractants. We sat down with Paul Burr, Ph.D., Acting Big Game Program Coordinator at the DNR, to learn why these rules exist and what happens if you break them.
What Is Chronic Wasting Disease?
While most diseases are caused by a virus or bacteria, CWD is a deadly brain disease caused by a misguided protein called a prion. This causes a lot of complications in treating and managing the disease, and as of right now, there’s no known cure. CWD is always fatal.
“It usually takes about two years for an infected deer to show symptoms,” explains Dr. Burr. “When they do, it’s obvious. They’ll be very malnourished, skinny, drooling, ears down, walking in circles. But for the first year or so, the deer will look totally normal.”
“One of the management tools we use [to combat CWD] is feeding and attractant bans,” says. Dr. Paul Burr, Acting Big Game Program Coordinator at the Minnesota DNR. “This reduces the chance of deer coming into close contact with one another.”
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How Feeding Deer Spreads CWD
CWD can spread through both direct contact, like licking and grooming, and indirect contact with contaminated soil, urine, or feces. That’s why the way deer interact with their environment matters so much.
People often don’t know the risks or aren’t aware they’re in a banned area.
Dr. Paul Burr, Acting Big Game Program Coordinator at the Minnesota DNR
Deer are naturally social animals, so they tend to gather in groups. When you add something like a bait pile or a mound of corn to your yard, you’re unnaturally increasing those gatherings — and ultimately, the risk of CWD transmission.
“You’ve got multiple deer standing in a small area, eating, licking, drooling, urinating, and that’s a perfect storm for disease transmission,” explains Dr. Burr. “Compare that to a field — there might still be a group of deer, but they’re more spread out. Feeding creates tight, repeated gathering spots.”
How the DNR Determines Feeding Ban Zones
To help slow the spread of CWD, the DNR has implemented “feeding ban zones” throughout multiple counties in Minnesota. When a deer tests positive for CWD, the DNR then draws a 15-mile buffer around the area where the animal was found. From there, experts examine which surrounding counties fall within that zone.
“For a county to be included in the ban, at least two miles of the county must fall within that 15-mile circle,” adds Dr. Burr. “If it’s just barely touching, it’s not included. That’s to make implementation more realistic, especially in very large counties in northern Minnesota.”
CWD is transmissible between deer via saliva, feces, and urine. It can also spread indirectly through the environment, like a deer urinating and another picking it up from contaminated soil.
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What Happens If You Break the Rules?
The feeding ban is ultimately enforced by DNR conservation officers, and it prohibits placing food, salt blocks, or other attractants that could lure deer. However, enforcement is typically treated as an opportunity to educate the general public, not penalize.
“People often don’t know the risks or aren’t aware they’re in a banned area,” explains Dr. Burr. “If someone is a repeat offender or clearly knows better, they could be cited, but it really depends on the situation. Usually, it’s a warning first.”
Violations can include anything from setting out a bait pile to unintentionally attracting deer with a low-hanging bird feeder. The goal of these bans, Dr. Burr emphasizes, is to reduce risky deer-to-deer interactions.
Are the Bans Effective?
According to research from the DNR, it’s hard to pinpoint the exact results of the feeding ban zones; however, Dr. Burr says they can expect the spread of the disease to slow down.
“There aren’t many studies that do a side-by-side comparison of places with and without bans,” he adds. “But there is strong research showing that attractants do increase unnatural deer congregation, and that congregation increases risk of transmission. So removing attractants reduces contact density, which should help reduce spread.”
Bird feeders are a common culprit for spreading CWD. The DNR recommends keeping them at least six feet above the ground to prevent deer access.
©Keith Bell/Shutterstock.com
Why Feeding Deer Isn’t Helping
While it can certainly feel helpful to feed deer — especially during tough winter months — Dr. Burr says more times than not, it’s going to backfire. Not only does feeding deer alter their natural behavior, but it can also damage their surrounding habitat. Plus, certain foods, like too much corn, can be detrimental to a deer’s overall health.
“I know people have good intentions, but deer have evolved to survive harsh Minnesota winters,” says Dr. Burr. “The best way to help them is to improve their habitat. That’s what we always recommend. Not feeding them, but supporting the natural landscape they depend on.”
The Bottom Line
While feeding deer might seem like a harmless (or even helpful) way to connect with nature, in Minnesota, it can have serious consequences. CWD is fatal and persistent, which is why the DNR’s feeding bans exist. They want to reduce the chances of deer congregating and spreading the fatal disease.
To see if your county is under a feeding band or if you want to learn more, visit mndnr.gov. The rules can change as CWD cases are detected, so staying informed in a simple way to help the local deer population.
The post Why Feeding Deer in This State Can Get You in Trouble appeared first on A-Z Animals.
