Colorado Parks and Wildlife has repeatedly warned the public about not giving food to wildlife, but we keep on doing it.

And I understand why. We want to give them something to eat, just in case they're not getting enough out in the wild, right?

That's a really nice way to think, but as you can see it has detrimental effects.

It's important to understand that not all foods are meant for all wildlife. Take this deer, for instance. Well-meaning people, wanting to see the deer eat gave him birdseed. And that's not what you want to feed a deer. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has repeatedly said:

“Feeding big game, especially deer, whether it’s hay, corn, dog food or other livestock-type food, can kill them. Their digestive systems aren’t designed to handle these types of rich foods,” said Renzo DelPiccolo, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Montrose.

Recently there have been several stories of people feeding wildlife, and videos showing what happens when you try.

A few more things to think about before you decide to try and feed wildlife.

When you offer food to wildlife, they tend to gather more where the food is plentiful and easier to obtain. And more wild animals like deer around your home means predators also know where to go for an easy meal.

This is a perfect example of why CPW asks us to not feed the wildlife. In our attempts to make sure they're eating and surviving, we could be making life much worse for them.

 

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