“Viewpoints” is a place on Chapelboro where local people are encouraged to share their unique perspectives on issues affecting our community. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work, reporting or approval of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com. If you’d like to contribute a column on an issue you’re concerned about, interesting happenings around town, reflections on local life — or anything else — send a submission to viewpoints@wchl.com.
On the Feeding of Deer
A perspective from Shannon Thielman
Hi Neighbors! I want to share my thoughts on something that’s been going on in the area for years – the feeding of deer. I’ve been studying deer for a long time – my first ever research paper in grade school was on the whitetail deer – I interviewed our local wildlife biologist, who serendipitously later became my colleague. I’m no scientist, but deer are a major issue in my first career field of study – that of land use planning. I’m an ardent conservationist. I don’t call myself an environmentalist, because there is too much baggage with that term. I am not an animal rightist, though I am filled with compassion for individual animals, and particularly for species. My family hunts; I have hunted. My freezer is full of venison because it is the only meat I eat, for ethical reasons. I like to bring science to the subject of wildlife management.
Science has a lot to say about feeding deer. Whitetail deer are very much over carrying capacity in much of the country – that means that there are far more deer than should be there naturally. Deer are one of the few species that happily co-exists with humans, and even increase in human presence – even without feeding. Deer are “edge-species,” uniquely adapted to exist on the edges of forests and open areas. And we humans love to create edges.
Orange County has one of the densest deer populations in the state – over 50 per square mile, which is far above ecological carrying capacity. The reason for this is the lack of hunting and natural predators in highly populated areas. What does this mean?
Deer are devastating to native habitats. They prevent regeneration of native trees and shrubs and can simply decimate native vegetation. Our forests looked very different before deer got so overpopulated. Deer feeding leads to the spread of diseases. While chronic wasting disease hasn’t to my knowledge been detected yet in Orange County, when I first moved here 6 years ago it wasn’t in the state at all. It is coming. Concentration of deer over unnatural food sources only increases ithe speed of its spread. Collisions: in 2024, North Carolina reported 21K deer/car collisions – more than most other states. North Carolina has about four deaths per year from deer collisions (I”m surprised it’s not much higher). The state estimates that deer crashes cost about $400 million per year. It is well-established that increased deer populations result in increased tick populations which result in an increase in tick borne diseases. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that those diseases are skyrocketing, even around here. Damages: deer cause untold damage to landscaping and to agriculture. My inexpert guess is many millions, depending on how it is counted (this one strikes home to me). The corn that people feed deer is actually harmful to them. It’s like junk food. Deer are not meant to eat corn! When they do, it means they are not out foraging for the things they are actually supposed to be eating – foods that their stomachs have adapted to, for millions of years. A healthy deer will be out in the woods, eating what deer normally eat. Corn will cause diarrhea and dehydration, both of which can be deadly. Their stomachs just aren’t designed for it. There are climates with high rates of winter kills for deer in which feeding MIGHT be more appropriate – but not here in the Piedmont.I don’t hate deer, they are simply part of an ecological system that we have tampered with severely. I don’t like them when they are in my yard, eating my landscaping. Unfortunately, humans have made them into a nuisance species. Enjoy the sights of them! But please think twice before you decide you want to feed them.
“Viewpoints” on Chapelboro is a recurring series of community-submitted opinion columns. All thoughts, ideas, opinions and expressions in this series are those of the author, and do not reflect the work or reporting of 97.9 The Hill and Chapelboro.com.
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