Riverside Info » About Riverside

Feeding wild deer is illegal

(8 posts)
  • Started 2 years ago by admin
  • Latest reply from EricSundstrom

  1. HABIV
    Member

    I logged on for the first time today and started reading various posts.

    I stumbled upon some posts regarding the feeding of deer. It is a bad idea that has been illegal since 2002 (http://dnr.state.il.us/legal/adopted/635.pdf). Feeding wild deer promotes Chronic Wasting Disease and a host of extremely contagious, deadly respiratory diseases. Besides that, the feeding of deer can lead to close contact with people; a situation that can lead to serious injury.

    Anyone seen feeding deer should be reported to the IL Conservation Police @ 1 877 236 7529.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 12:58 #

  2. Catherine
    Member

    That is most interesting. Is there some reason why anyone seeing someone feeding deer could not inform the person of this as you have just done? I believe in fair warning myself.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 12:58 #

  3. HABIV
    Member

    Catherine,

    I agree that a fair warning is a good first step. However, if someone persists, they should be reported. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. If a person is unfamiliar with laws regarding wildlife, they shouldn't mess the animals.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 12:59 #

  4. Catherine
    Member

    I know people who feed "wild" life that come into their backyards here. Someone kindly disposed to deer is unlikely to want to harm them. And yes, if you chance upon a deer unexpectedly, it can kick you and more than once. (Something else I once didn't know.) Maybe you have started a consciousness-raising campaign, because you seem to know and care a lot about this topic. Many laws are broken in town, but it is better to engage people in what they may not be aware of. This is more likely to result in success, if by success one means ending the behavior and not something else.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 12:59 #

  5. HABIV
    Member

    If you know people that are feeding deer, perhaps you have a responsibility to tell them to stop. There is no lack of Information regarding Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Boone, McHenry, & Winnebago counties have all been found to have CWD infected populations. In some areas, the problem is so bad that culling programs are in force. State DNRs do an excellent job of educating hunters to spot CWD.

    If you help to educate the misguided animal lovers and they ignore the warning, report them.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 13:18 #

  6. Catherine
    Member

    No, I have never heard of the connection between deer-feeding and CWD, but only the connection to culling. Now you have informed me, I will so share it.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 13:22 #

  7. HABIV
    Member

    Great, thanks.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 13:30 #

  8. EricSundstrom
    Member

    Its not humans feeding the deer as a causitive for CWD, its just easier for the disease to transmit if you have deer congregating to feed. Cwd is caused by prions,(a mutated protein molecule).Its the same thing that cause's Mad Cow disease.

    Posted Friday Aug 21, 2009 15:19 #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.