Wild deer diets change significantly as winter approaches, driven by environmental conditions and the scarcity of typical food sources. Their ability to survive harsh winter months depends on adapting to the limited natural resources available.
Natural Winter Forage
During winter, when snow covers the ground and deciduous plants lose their leaves, wild deer primarily rely on woody browse. This includes the twigs, buds, and bark of various trees and shrubs. Preferred species for deer include maple, aspen, willow, and dogwood.
Evergreen vegetation also becomes a food source, with deer consuming needles and twigs from conifers such as cedar, hemlock, pine, and fir. Their nutritional content is lower compared to other forage. In agricultural areas, deer may forage on leftover crops like corn, soybeans, and alfalfa remnants if they are accessible. Any remaining mast, such as acorns and nuts, that fell in autumn can be sought out by deer.
Deer also search for persistent forbs and grasses that remain green and uncovered by snow, though these are often scarce. Their digestive systems undergo a change in winter, adapting to break down the higher fiber content of woody browse. Deer will also paw through snow to reach buried vegetation.
Winter Survival Strategies
Beyond their dietary changes, deer employ several physiological and behavioral adaptations to endure winter. They naturally lower their metabolic rate to conserve energy when food is scarce.
Building substantial fat reserves during the fall is a key preparation for winter. These fat stores provide an energy reserve. Deer also significantly reduce their activity levels, moving less to save energy.
In areas with deep snow and severe cold, deer may migrate to sheltered locations known as “deer yards.” These yards, often dense stands of coniferous trees, offer protection from wind and snow. Deer can obtain water by consuming snow or ice.
The Perils of Artificial Feeding
Feeding wild deer in winter often has detrimental consequences for their health and survival. Deer digestive systems are specialized for their natural, high-fiber diet, and an abrupt introduction of human-provided foods like corn or hay can cause severe digestive issues. Such foods can lead to conditions like acidosis or enterotoxemia, which can be fatal.
Concentrating deer at feeding sites increases the risk of disease transmission. Diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) can spread rapidly through shared food, saliva, urine, and feces at these communal locations. Artificial feeding makes deer lose their natural fear of humans, leading to habituation that can result in increased conflicts, property damage, and vehicle collisions.
Feeding can also disrupt natural migration patterns, causing deer to remain in areas they would typically leave. Deer can become dependent on artificial food sources, reducing their ability and inclination to forage naturally. This dependency, combined with increased population density around feeding sites, can lead to overbrowsing and degradation of natural habitats.