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Don't Feed the Deer! Here's Why...

Heather McClain
/
WESA

While it might be tempting to feed the deer that may wander into your surroundings this fall, the Pennsylvania Game Commissionadvises against this. We’ll find out why from Dr. Justin Brown, a veterinarian with the state Game Commission.

Brown notes that, unlike in the case of elk and bears, it is generally not actually illegal to feed deer in the Commonwealth. But feeding deer still has direct and indirect dangers for both the deer and the environment: it can lead to the spread of serious diseases, contribute to increased deer aggression and vehicle collisions and interfere with the animals’ natural behavior and normal seasonal adaptations.