Many people offer cracked corn to deer, often driven by a desire to interact with wildlife or to supplement their diet during perceived food scarcity. Understanding deer’s dietary needs is crucial before providing any food source. This article explores why deer are attracted to cracked corn and the broader implications of feeding them this grain.
Why Deer Are Attracted to Cracked Corn
Deer are attracted to cracked corn for several reasons. Its palatability, especially the sweetness of white corn varieties, makes it appealing. Corn is also rich in carbohydrates, offering a quick energy source, which is attractive when natural food is scarce, like in winter. The small, broken pieces are easy for deer to consume. This combination of taste, energy, and ease contributes to its appeal.
Nutritional Value for Deer
While deer are attracted to cracked corn, its nutritional composition is largely incompatible with their natural dietary needs. Deer are ruminants, with a specialized stomach adapted to digest fibrous plant material like leaves, twigs, and forbs. Corn, primarily starch, offers energy but lacks essential proteins, fibers, vitamins, and minerals found in their natural browse.
A diet high in rapidly fermentable carbohydrates, like corn, can disrupt the delicate balance of microorganisms in a deer’s rumen. This imbalance can lead to acidosis, where excessive lactic acid production lowers the rumen’s pH. Acidosis damages the gut lining, impairs nutrient absorption, and can result in severe diarrhea and dehydration.
Risks Associated with Cracked Corn
Feeding cracked corn to deer carries many risks beyond nutritional imbalances. Health issues like acidosis can lead to bloat, liver damage, and even death, as deer may starve if their digestive system cannot process the corn. Artificial feeding sites concentrate deer in high numbers, facilitating the rapid spread of infectious diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and tuberculosis. CWD prions can persist in the environment at these sites, posing a long-term risk.
Deer that regularly receive human-provided food can become habituated, losing their natural wariness and foraging instincts. This dependency can lead to increased property damage as deer seek food in residential areas. Concentrated deer populations also face higher risks from predators and increased human-wildlife conflicts, including vehicle collisions. Corn feeders attract other wildlife, such as raccoons, rodents, and bears, creating additional issues.
Better Food Options for Deer
The most suitable food for deer is their natural diet, consisting of browse, forbs, and mast. Browse includes the leaves, twigs, and buds of woody plants. Forbs are broad-leaved herbaceous plants, and mast refers to nuts and fruits like acorns and berries. Deer are selective browsers, requiring high-quality forage to meet their nutritional needs.
If supplemental feeding is necessary, commercial deer feeds are available. These pelleted rations provide balanced nutrition, with adequate protein (typically 16-18%), fiber, and a mineral and vitamin package. Enhancing natural habitat by planting native trees, shrubs, and forbs is another approach. Encouraging natural foraging and avoiding artificial food sources like cracked corn supports deer health.