Virginia DWR reminds residents not to feed deer, even in winter weather

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has reminded residents not to feed deer, even during or after harsh winter weather.

In a social media post on Feb. 3, DWR said that although winter is the most difficult season for most animals, and the recent winter storm may add to residents' concerns about wildlife, Virginians should not feed deer, as they have evolved to survive these conditions.

"Fortunately, wildlife evolved to cope during these stressful conditions," DWR said in the post.

The department highlighted that deer replace thin summer hair with thick winter coats of hollow, insulating hair that keeps them warm and dry.

And regarding food during winter, DWR said that although the amount and quality of food are limited throughout the season, deer accumulate as much fat as possible in the fall to compensate, creating energy reserves. In addition, their metabolism reportedly reduces during cold winter months.

"Acorns, which were abundant this past fall, are the primary source for building up fat," the department said.

Although many people with positive intentions may want to feed deer during harsh times like winter weather, DWR reminded the public that they should refrain from doing so due to the possibility of causing "tremendous harm."

The department shared that a deer’s stomach relies on certain types of bacteria to help digest their food. DWR said that to make digestion more efficient, the environment within the deer's stomach adjusts to the types of foods that are widely available at the time.

The department added that a deer's stomach during the winter is not equipped to digest foods like grains, including corn, and if a deer were to suddenly consume large amounts of corn or similar foods, it can cause acidosis and death.

"Deer are incredibly resilient animals, with solid populations living in climates from South Texas to Maine," DWR said. "Is this year’s Virginia winter hard for deer? Yes. But don’t make it worse by feeding them."

Further, DWR said it is illegal to feed deer at any time of year in many counties and cities within Virginia.