CWD will likely make its way…

CWD will likely make its way to Ontario one day. Preparing now is the best plan. Can it be prevented? Can things be done to ensure deer risk is reduced? Deer congregating and feeding presents issues. Deer poop helps spread disease. Now they will go where they go but feeding deer adds a new complexity. More poop in one spot and more disease. Brain worm for moose, more ticks, etc. Food sources presented by humans can impact deer. Corn feed killing deer in cold weather as the enzymes in their stomach cannot process corn in winter etc. Other manufactured chemicals. Never before have there been so many options for deer feed. Ok. Baiting deer for a set hunting season helps hunters impact the population. But people are doing it way beyond hunting seasons too. Especially those who are not educated and have common sense. People in subdivisions etc too.

Ban deer feeding. A no no. For deer baiting only allow it during deer season and at that only when you own more than an acre of land and not within residential areas. Only on crown land in excess of a certain size and far from dwellings. As soon as hunting season is over then cease all feeding and baiting. This is coming from the perspective of a long time hunter who does believe in baiting deer during the hunt only.

Feeding deer causes property destruction otherwise too beyond spreading other issues. It’s in-natural and does nothing to benefit. Deer poachers feed deer regularly. Ban it. Fines for those doing it and don’t allow it outside of safe hunting areas only in deer season.

Long term healthy wildlife populations require the animals to live naturally. Not taking man produced feeds in areas they not belong.