Resist temptation to feed non-avian wildlife in winter

A couple of weeks ago a man was headed to work in the area of Road 10 north of Moses Lake and west of Stratford Road.

There was still plenty of snow on the ground.

The man noticed a herd of deer and stopped to count them. His count stopped at 250 and the herd reportedly contained white-tailed deer, as well as mule deer.

My wife, Garnet, and I headed to the area a week after the incident and saw no deer. We crossed over Stratford and headed east and north and didn’t spot a deer during the two-hour drive. Even though we didn’t see a single deer, they are still in the area and not so bunched up.

Seeing one deer looking hungry while standing in the snow and looking for food is a tear-at-your-heart moment.

However, most deer, elk and other wildlife can survive the winter without being fed by well-intentioned people, according to the Fish and Wildlife Department.

There are problems with feeding big game animals. Having a feeding area close to a road may lead to increased possibilities of wildlife and vehicle collisions. In addition, when there is a concentration of animals, the chances of spreading disease increase.

Another consideration with so many animals in one area is the chance of a cougar following the herd.

And, of course, there is a chance of increased poaching.

Fish and Wildlife suggests the following course of action: “Often, the best way to help wild animals in winter is to avoid disturbing them, allowing them to conserve vital energy. Recommended actions include keeping dogs confined and slowing down while traveling through wildlife habitat.”

Why can’t Fish and Wildlife simply feed them hay?

“It can take several weeks for a deer’s digestive system to adjust to hay or other artificial feed. If they don’t have enough fat reserves to get through the adjustment period, deer can die even with bellies full of feed they can’t digest.

“If, after considering all these issues, an individual chooses to feed, the best artificial deer feed is a pelleted ration that contains approximately 50 percent alfalfa and 50 percent grains. Barley and corn are the recommended grains.”

Feeding tends to be expensive as one white-tailed deer can consume three to four pounds of pelleted feed daily, which amounts to almost 500 pounds of feed over four months. Another consideration is once feeding is started, animals come to expect it and may damage nearby landscape plants or agricultural areas if artificial food is discontinued before natural forage plants emerge in the spring, according to Fish and Wildlife literature.

In select circumstances elk and deer are offered feed by the department. One is at the Oak Creek Wildlife Area where elk are fed to prevent damage to nearby private land. Another example is the feeding of big game animals where their winter range has been lost to wildfires or other acts of nature.

Remember, extreme and extended winter conditions can be harsh, but such conditions are a fact of life and a fact of nature. The key is to maintain a proper habitat, so the animals are able to go into the winter season in good condition.

Feeding birds during the winter is a different story.

Although Fish and Wildlife suggests a good time to begin feeding is the middle of October, it is acceptable to put out a bird feeder at any time.

One myth surrounding feeding birds is when the feeder is empty. Fish and Wildlife puts it this way, “There is a notion that once you start feeding birds you need to continue without interruption, otherwise the birds that have become dependent on your feeder will starve. It’s more likely that backyard birds visit a number of feeders in their daily search for food. If yours is empty, they’ll just go to their next stop. The biggest problem in interrupting a feeding program is getting the word out to the birds once you resume feeding.”

I agree with all of the above, except the last sentence.

A feeder can be empty for a week and when refilled it may take as little as an hour or a full day, but it won’t take long before the birds are back.

Just as with any concentration of birds, be watchful for sick birds. If encountered, stop feeding immediately. Don’t touch dead birds. Some recommendations call for sanitizing bird feeders every week, some every two weeks.

Be mindful of the fact hawks might appear and probably will. After all, they get hungry too. Educate young bird watchers about the hawks so they won’t be distressed when a hawk kills a sparrow or finch and eats it 10 feet from the dining room glass doors.

This is a magnificent way to teach about nature.

What kind of seed should I buy?

Any birdseed at the local store with a bird feeding section should work. However, most of the birds will sift through the small seeds to get to the black sunflower. Most of the seed we put out is the sunflower, except for some thistle seed for the special finch feeders.

The object of having bird feeders is to enjoy watching our feathered friends and to teach our youth about nature.