YOUR ACTIONS MATTER! PROTECT DEER AND PEOPLE

As of today 374 wild deer have been found to be infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in the state of Minnesota. CWD is a fatal prion disease that also affects other cervids like elk and moose. It's spread between cervid populations through contact with feces, urine, saliva, and blood.

As concerned stewards of our environment, we all must address the looming threat of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Since feeding and attractants can cause deer to congregate, the MN Department of Natural Resources "requires anyone who feeds birds or other small mammals to do so in a way that prevents deer from gaining access."

To start, since deer can reach feeders within 5 feet of the ground, place food at least 6 feet from ground level. 

Other helpful steps that can be taken include:

1. Use tube feeders, hopper style, or cage-style suet feeders for birds.

2. Try thistle seed, hummingbird nectar, and suet which deer generally dislike and avoid using cracked corn, black oil sunflower seeds, and bird seed mixes.

3. Only put out the amount of food birds in your area will consume in one day.

4. Keeping feeders within 3 feet of your home can be a deer deterrent.

5. Keep the area around feeders clean. Any food that drops to the ground will become a potential attractant. Place a platform 5 feet off the ground under the feeder to catch all spilled food and clean it out daily.

6. Installing a woven wire 4 foot or taller fence around the feeder is also an option. This prevents the deer from reaching over or through to get to the food. If you prefer to keep deer completely off of your property you'll need to install a woven wire fence that is at least 10 feet tall. Keep in mind that building permits are required for fences over seven feet in height. Fences under seven feet in height do not require a building permit but must meet the location and City ordinance requirements. 

For those people in counties where wild deer have tested positive for CWD, the DNR has banned feeding and attractants. Those counties currently include: 

• Aitkin, Beltrami, Carver, Cass, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Itasca, Le Sueur, Mower, Norman, Olmsted, Polk, Rice, Scott, Sibley, Wabasha, Washington, Winona

The above screenshots are taken from the MN DNR website. 

Chronic Wasting Disease isn't only a threat to cervids, it's also a potential public health threat that needs to be taken seriously so to keep CWD numbers low, Minnesotans must do their part to prevent the spread of the disease.

Public Health Official: Chronic Wasting Disease Seems Bound To Infect People

Chronic Wasting Disease

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