The Dangers of Feeding Wildlife

Yes, the picture shown below is real, and yes, it was taken in The Landings. The elongated hooves you see is a condition known as Laminitis and is the result of acidosis from the sudden and severe ingestion of high carbohydrate grain (most often corn).

This is not a genetic condition, but a direct reaction to human activity. While the severity of Laminitis is determined by several factors, the root acidosis leads to a change in stomach bacteria resulting in diarrhea, dehydration, disorientation, and eventually death. The animal pictured has replaced his usual high fiber/low carbohydrate diet with an easier to access low fiber/high carbohydrate one. Those carbohydrates ferment in the deer’s rumen, when eaten in excess, and basically change the nature of its digestion, while affecting the flow of blood to its extremities. Make no mistake, this animal has been essentially poisoned by grain (such as corn) and is in the process of a slow and painful demise. This is one of many reasons why you are strongly encouraged not to feed wild animals. Click here to read an article outlining some other reasons to refrain from such behavior, including the Rule and Regulation that prohibits such actions in The Landings 

Remember, it is dangerous, not beneficial to feed deer and other wildlife, as when you do you are effectively killing them in an inhumane way. Deer, turtles, wild ducks, and especially alligators do not need your supplemental feeding. The possible dangers involving approaching some of these species should be obvious, but the unseen ramifications caused by the feeding may not be as evident to some.  As mentioned earlier, the action of feeding deer, and other wild animals, is a violation of TLA Rules and Regulations, and violators may be subject to fines and/or loss of privileges. The picture below is the perfect example of uninformed, perhaps well-intentioned efforts to help that have gone wrong. Let’s keep wildlife wild!