Is feeding deer to help them get through the winter a good idea?
No. Feeding deer may inadvertently contribute to deer population growth, since with an increased food supply does tend to give birth to more than one fawn. Feeding deer may reduce the animals’ ability to survive a winter on their own, making them dependent on humans for food and thus more vulnerable to starvation. In addition, attracting wild animals to your property and permitting them to trust humans may simply make it easier for neighbors who hunt on nearby properties to kill them.
