Skip to content

Don't feed wild animals, MNR says

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reminds people not to feed wild mammals such as the red fox and deer. Red foxes are excellent hunters and normally prey on small mammals and birds.
040216_red_fox660
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reminds people not to feed wild mammals, such as the red fox (pictured) and deer. Supplied photo.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry reminds people not to feed wild mammals such as the red fox and deer.

Red foxes are excellent hunters and normally prey on small mammals and birds.

If people feed foxes, either directly or indirectly, the animals will lose their fear of humans and adapt to that food source. It will be difficult to make them leave an area if they become a nuisance.

Foxes that are habituated to humans can result in aggressive behaviour, conflicts with people and create public safety concerns.

The ministry reminds the public that red foxes can carry rabies, mange and distemper.

In the case of wild deer, using the wrong feed can result in digestive problems. People may inadvertently do more harm than good through improper feeding practices.

Feeding may encourage more deer in an area than the habitat can support. This can result in poor reproduction, smaller fawns, and higher winter mortality rates.

Deer-vehicle collisions may occur as deer cross roads to and from feeders. Deer that come to feeders may lose their natural fear of humans and cause conflicts at other times of the year.

A concentration of deer around artificial feeders can tempt natural predators of deer such as wolves to change their natural habits and come closer to populated areas.

Concentrating deer in an area increases the risk of disease transmission among animals. Although chronic wasting disease has not been found in Ontario in wild animals, there are concerns that encouraging concentrations of deer increases the risk and speed of disease transmission.

Read more about this issue by clicking here.

Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.