Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) advises hands off with wildlife CPW is the agency tasked with managing wildlife for the state of Colorado and for future generations. The agency often hears from citizens want to help wildlife, however helping often means keeping hands off. By allowing our wildlife to retain their natural, healthy wild instincts, we show our respect for their wild lives. Young, abandoned wildlife Each year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife receives scores of calls from concerned humans about wildlife that has been "abandoned" by adult animals. Many are tempted to "help" a young animal by picking it up or trying to feed it, however it is critical that people understand there is no substitute for their natural parents. Wildlife experts agree that it is quite normal for adult animals to leave their young in a safe place while they go forage for food. And often baby birds are fledging, or learning to fly, near their nests when they are deemed "abandoned." While well-meaning people sometimes gather up this baby wildlife and bring them to wildlife rehabilitation facilities, it is often the wrong thing to do. "Baby mammals are scentless in order to prevent predators from finding them," said Janet George, senior terrestrial biologist for CPW. "When humans touch these animals, they are imparting them with a scent their adults will not recognize. This can result in true abandonment of healthy offspring." If you find young wildlife, enjoy a quick glimpse, leave the animal where it is, and keep pets out of the area. Quietly observe the animal from a distance using binoculars and don't hover so close that the wild parents are afraid to return to the area. "If twenty-four hours go by and the parent does not return, it is possible the newborn was abandoned or the parent is dead (hit by a car, for example)," said Jenny Campbell, customer service expert with CPW. "Call our office and we will work with certified wildlife rehabilitation center to get aid for the wildlife if possible. Don't move the animal yourself!" Feeding wildlife CPW also wants to let citizens know that feeding corn and grain to some big game animals can be toxic and cause their death. Deer, elk, bighorn sheep and other ungulates are all ruminants, animals with a complex digestive system composed of a four chambered stomach. These animals digest plant based food through fermentation in a specialized stomach. "Wildlife are well adapted to feed on natural food sources; they don t need food from humans," said Matt Martinez, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer in the Parker area. "People think that feeding wildlife doesn t negatively affect wildlife, but in reality it is irresponsible and often leads to the death of the animal being fed." A law passed in 1992 makes it illegal to feed big game animals. This includes deer, elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, mountain lions and bears. Feeding wildlife is bad for the animals and
dangerous for people, for a number of different reasons. Every winter wildlife officers around the state pick up a number of deer, elk, and sheep that die as a result of artificial food sources. Ruminants that ingest grain, corn, or other high carbohydrate foods can result in lactic acidosis or enterotoxemia. These two conditions are not uncommon in ruminants in areas where they are being fed food from human sources. These two conditions result in death, usually within 24-72 hours from the time the animal ingests the grain. Ruminants can develop some tolerance to grain and corn over time, but feeding wildlife has other biological consequence. Salt and mineral blocks, corn, and grain all facilitate disease transmission. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in deer, elk and moose as well as pneumonia in sheep are very serious diseases. These diseases take time to develop in the animal, so the individuals feeding wildlife don t see the direct negative consequence of their actions. These animals frequently develop these diseases in areas where wildlife are fed and can affect many other individual animals than just the one that is initially infected. "Just in the last month, a bighorn ram, and three deer have been found dead in the greater Conifer area as a direct result of feeding. Who knows how many others we never find are out there. If you value the wildlife around you, it is important to stop feeding wildlife," says Martinez. People feeding wildlife generally fall into two different categories, those that don t know the harmful effects of feeding and those that are intentionally breaking the law. Many people feel it is helpful to feed wildlife, especially in the winter, and do so totally unaware of the consequences of their actions. Other people selfishly feed wildlife so they have wildlife in their backyard. Either way, feeders create many wildlife related problems such as attracting predators like mountain lions to their neighborhoods. Reporting wildlife concerns Concerned citizens are welcome to call the CPW Northeast Region office at 303-291-7227 if they suspect an animal is injured or abandoned. To report incidents of feeding or other illegal wildlife activity contact a local Colorado Parks and Wildlife officer via the same number. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Operation Game Thief at 877-265-6648. Rewards may be offered is the information leads to a citation. For more information, please visit: http://cpw.state.co.us/learn/pages/livingwithwildlife.aspx
Please Don t Feed The Deer Feeding deer can be harmful to them and dangerous for you. You care about the deer you watch from your home. That s natural. Care enough to let them live naturally. Deer can die if fed the wrong food. Hay, pet food, and human foods are all harmful. Fed deer can become demanding and dangerous. Feeding deer attracts mountain lions to your property. Feeding deer can concentrate them in an area and lead to the spread of disease. Feeding big game is unlawful. Colorado Division of Wildlife 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216 (303) 297-1192 www.wildlife.state.co.us
Why not feed deer? In most cases, feeding wildlife does more harm than good. This is especially true with deer. Though deer share many traits with other hooved animals, their digestive system is a bit different. Their rumen, or first stomach, is small, and food passes through their digestive system slowly. To thrive, deer must eat only the most easily digested and nutrient-rich plant parts. Watch deer as they browse, and you will see them choosing such nutritious foods as plant buds, green twigs and lush flowering plants. In winter habitat, deer browse sagebrush, mountain mahogany, and the buds of other shrubs. Green flowering plants are favored when they are available. In neighborhoods, fruits such as crabapples add a tasty supplement, but won t sustain a deer. Most other foods, unless scientifically formulated, will cause more harm than good. Elk, on the other hand, can eat large quantities of less nutritious plant material, such as hay; roughage will pass through their system quickly, and they will obtain the nutrients they need. The Colorado Division of Wildlife feeds big game only when winter conditions are extreme, with an expected loss of 30% of the adult female population, and only with specially formulated food. These are several good reasons for the public not to feed any wild animal. The best thing people can do for wildlife is to ensure access to habitat where they can find their natural diet. Thanks for your cooperation! Divison of Wildlife Offices Brush...(970) 842-6300 Colorado Springs...(719) 227-5200 Denver...(303) 291-7227 Durango...(970) 247-0855 Ft. Collins...(970) 472-4300 Glenwood Springs...(970) 947-2920 Grand Junction...(970) 255-6100 Gunnison...(970) 641-7060 Hot Sulphur Springs..(970) 725-6200 Lamar...(719) 336-6600 Meeker...(970) 878-6090 Monte Vista...(719) 587-6900 Montrose...(970) 252-6000 Pueblo...(719) 561-5300 Salida...(719) 530-5520 Steamboat Springs...(970) 870-2197 For more information on Colorado wildlife, visit: www.wildlife.state.co.us