Concerns about the ability of deer to survive the winter without supplemental feed are common this time of year. Deer decrease their activity in winter, in order to reduce the amount of food they require to make it through; they gather in areas that provide adequate cover and protection from deep snow, where at least some natural food is available; and they rely on stored body fat for much of their winter energy requirements. Nonetheless, prolonged periods of extreme cold can be particularly difficult, especially on does that have burned off most of their fat reserves and are carrying fawns. Weakened deer often fall prey to predators or die of starvation.

While it may seem contrary to reason, feeding deer that are running out of energy can actually cause more harm than good. Offering a starving deer food other than proper natural browse (i.e. cedar, witch hobble, dogwood, basswood), may actually hasten the animal’s starvation.

Like cows, deer are ruminant animals. A deer swallows food without chewing and stores it in its rumen, the first and largest chamber of its 4-chamber stomach. Essentially, it eats until its rumen is full. Then, the partially digested food, or cud, is regurgitated, chewed, and swallowed. Deer are dependent upon a variety of bacteria and microorganisms in the rumen, not digestive juices, to break food down. The types and concentrations of those microorganisms are food-specific. If the deer has been feeding on native browse, it’s built up the microorganisms that digest only that type of vegetation. If that deer suddenly fills its rumen with hay or grain, it may not have enough of the proper microorganisms built up to digest it. Until the deer’s system can adjust to the change of diet, it will receive very little nutrition from the food it has eaten. And the deer may starve to death, with a belly full of food it could not digest.

What’s more, suddenly introducing grain into even a healthy deer’s diet may cause needless suffering from scours (diarrhea) and acidosis; a condition where excess acid builds up in the rumen killing natural digestive-tract bacteria, leading to indigestion, dehydration, disorientation, and possibly death.

It has been illegal to feed deer in New York since 2003; this was a precautionary action taken by the Department of Environmental Conservation to help curtail the spread of diseases, including chronic wasting disease; a progressive, degenerative disease that is spread from animal to animal through saliva and that is always fatal; and bovine tuberculosis, which is highly contagious and can be spread between wildlife populations and domestic food animals through inhalation or ingestion.

Even if it weren’t illegal, there are several other very good reasons not to feed deer. Those that visit feeding stations often become abnormally aggressive, sometimes injuring one another while fighting for food. Younger, weaker, and less assertive animals are often kept away by larger, stronger ones. Since feeding sites encourage deer to crowd together in unnaturally high densities, the risk of death by predators is increased. And, once dependent upon artificial feeding, deer often ignore their natural instincts. They lose their fear of humans and become pests; often returning in the summer to feast on garden plants and landscape fruit trees.

Private forest landowners who want to help deer survive the winter should consider including deer habitat management as part of an overall forest management plan. If forestland has the capacity to produce a good, year round supply of the natural foods essential to carrying a healthy deer population, successful deer habitat management should be easily achieved using long-accepted timber management practices.

If you have an ample number of deer overwintering on your land, it is probable that some form of quality browse is fairly readily obtainable. After all, if there was no food to be had, the deer would be somewhere else. One of the keys to successful deer habitat management is to identify available natural browse and improve its productivity.

A preferred overwintering site will consist of a mixture of mature conifers, some southern aspects, and scattered deciduous openings. By making certain that deer overwintering on your land have sheltered areas that offer easy access to a sufficient diet of natural, high-quality browse from late fall through early spring, you will helpi ensure their ability to survive, the does’ ability to produce healthy fawns, and the overall condition of the herd.

Younger timber stands and forests that offer ample amounts of fresh grasses, tender native plants and accessible green tree and shrub leaves in summer and brush that provides bud and twig browse in winter will be preferred by deer over an older forest that cannot provide adequate natural food year round. If yours is an older forest or timber stand, you may want to consider logging to create forest openings not unlike those created by natural disturbances, such as ice storms, windstorms, insect outbreaks, diseases, fire. Forest openings facilitate opportunities for vegetation that can provide food, browse, and cover to become established in the landscape. Keep in mind that den trees, mast trees, and unique tree species should always be left behind to ensure good habitat diversity.

You may also choose to selectively thin your stand or cut firewood or saw timber in winter. This will leave small trees and tops lying on the ground, which will provide an immediate source of browse at a time when snow cover renders other food sources unavailable.

Your forest may already contain openings created by ice and windstorms or from old, existing logging trails, landings and / or rights of way. These openings can be maintained, managed, or enlarged to create or improve habitat and promote or enhance food production. Wildlife that find these areas will use them until they close over. And, as your cuts fill in, the new, thick growth will provide concealment from predators. If you wish to maintain wildlife populations, you will need to create new openings at five to eight year intervals.

Creating ‘food plots’ is another option. This may involve enhancing the growth of or planting grasses, legumes, shrubs, broadleaf annuals and perennials, berries, and / or fruit bearing trees, and may require additional site preparation and maintenance.

If you are a private forest landowner or manager and would like more information about management of native vegetation and timber, creating and improving habitat, and/or establishing food plots on your land, you should contact your regional DEC or local Cornell Cooperative Extension office.