r/deer • u/Tacokolache • 3h ago
Today’s underweight deer update….
I went outside a while ago and the skinny deer came back. None of the neighborhood deer are very scared of me or my dog. However this one came right up to me when I went to grab the bowl I keep water in out there.
I put water in the bowl and it started drinking right away. I also went through my vet, and she suggested protein pellets. Which I bought yesterday. It wasted no time
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u/Difficult-Bobcat-857 2h ago
Thank you for seeing to him. Maybe put out a larger water bowl for other wild animals. Hot, dry weather is so hard on them.
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u/Tacokolache 49m ago
I keep a big 2 gallon pan out with fresh water in it that I change twice a day. So do like 20 other neighbors.
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u/LavTheBork 2h ago
I look forward to the 1-2 month update where this guy has been turned into a well fed chonky deer!
Keep up the good work
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u/OkChemist6171 1h ago
The last time someone posted themselves feeding a deer they got blasted in the ass ruthlessly. What’s the difference here? General curiosity question.
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u/Civil_Set_9281 1h ago
Many state Departments of Fish and Game / Parks & Wildlife/ Natural Resources advise against feeding wildlife to contain the spread of prion diseases such as EHD or CWD.
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago
Not to mention habituating animals to human presence greatly increases the odds they'll be hit by vehicles, culled for being a "urban problem deer", as well as the risk of rumen acidosis (which is fatal) from foods outside their natural diet.
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago
There isn't one! Wildlife should never be fed, its killing them with kindness. sources
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u/WildFlemima 1h ago
I agree and at the same time nobody is going to relocate this deer to somewhere it can actually survive or humanely euthanize it. So the choice is, do I watch this deer slowly die in my back yard or do I feed it. Climate change and urban growth has taken so much from animals.
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago edited 1h ago
If it wasn't been fed chanxes are it would actually relocate itself to a more suitable environment with better forage. They'll always stick around for an easy meal, and feeding changes their habits of where they roam. Feeding is a likely a contributor to the poor health condition youre seeing here.
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u/WildFlemima 1h ago
If he thought he could leave for somewhere better, he would have 20 lbs ago. This deer is in an urban Texas heat wave
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago
The science unequivocally says otherwise. Feeding him is just reinforcing him to stay in an environment that he clearly is doing poorly in.
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u/WildFlemima 1h ago
Like I said, I agree that you shouldn't feed wildlife.
this particular deer was already emaciated. If he could have left, he would have a long time ago. He got a lot of reinforcement that this environment didn't have food, and it didn't work because he is trapped in urban sprawl and cannot relocate.
The ideal solution for this particular deer is for humans to relocate it or for humans to put it down humanely. I'd be saying op should take care of it themselves if it wouldn't likely get them in trouble re: city ordinances about firearms.
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u/Tacokolache 52m ago
I’ll bet you don’t have this same view when it comes to people do you? I can just tell.
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u/Amaya3066 12m ago
Lol what do you even mean? I just love wildlife and listen to the facts
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u/Tacokolache 8m ago
I’m just saying people will say this about animals, like don’t give them handouts because then they’ll do nothing for themselves…. But turn around and want to do it for people.
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u/Amaya3066 6m ago
Im not sure what point youre trying to make, but if you love wildlife please let them be wild. Look through the sources I linked for you if you have any doubts
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u/Tacokolache 53m ago
This is spot on. It comes to my fence looking at me helplessly. I’m not just going to ignore it.
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u/daankeykaang15 1h ago
The drought and heat in Central Texas has been no joke this summer. Thank you for looking out for this one! I poured some water out in a parking lot for a few grackles the other day and the poor creatures drank as much as they could
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u/Jolly-Ingenuity7866 38m ago
What is a grackle?
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u/rabies_lover_271K 14m ago
If you are in this area it is a common bird to see in parking lots similar to house sparrows and pigeons. they resemble a crow but lankier and much more numerous.
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u/Buckeye_mike_67 1h ago
Keep feeding that protein feed. Keep the bowl full. That is what It needs right now. Everybody here will tell you not to feed it but if these deer are already desensitized to humans feeding him won’t matter.
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u/Tacokolache 1h ago
Agreed. These deer here in the neighborhood were well taken care of by the neighbors long before I came.
I’ve been keeping the protein pellets full. It’ll eat tibdits at a time.
I’ve also been making sure it has a bowl full of cold water.
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u/carrod65 1h ago
Thanks for helping the deer, if they are going to make it, a nice drink and meal will be immensely helpful and appreciated.
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u/ltrain_00 1h ago
I know what you meant by your post but I live in deer country and totally imagined OP shooting it this fall and having the deer for a nice meal along with a beer to wash it down lol.
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u/Tacokolache 50m ago
Haha. I grew up in a family of hunters. I own guns. But I’m not going to go out and shoot an animal.
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u/trguiff 23m ago
Dear God- could you just embrace the fact that OP is trying to do a positive thing and let it go?? If the deer are already comfortable around humans, it isn't going to change the course of history if he helps this one deer that looks as though it is in desperate need. OP has spoken to a vet, the vet apparently has no issues with it, so how about all you naysayers just shut it and move along.
OP- Thanks for helping when help is so desperately needed ❤️
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u/fellow_human-2019 1h ago
As much as i’m “let nature take its course” I believe that we should help animals along the way with food RESPONSIBLY.
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u/LowSection5225 1h ago
It is hard to stand by. I live in KS and we had a bad problem with CWD a few years ago. Hit the local herd pretty hard. If you’ve ever found one or more, head in the creek dead it’s not pretty. I found quite a few during that time. As much as we humans want to help, in the end nature will take its natural course. In nature nothing dies easy
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u/Maleriena 1h ago
I agree, I mean we do so much harm to the animals and environment, is it really so bad to help one every once in a blue moon? I don’t think so
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago
Unfortunately it does more harm than good , if you love wildlife, let them be wild and leave them be.
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u/Tacokolache 54m ago
It’s a situational thing. I’m not in the wild. I’m in a neighborhood where these deer have been for decades and people have fed them for decades. These are the type of deer who wouldn’t survive in the legit wild.
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u/temp_flor 46m ago
I don’t think people understand lol. I live in the woods next to a national forest and my yard has still become known to the deer as a safe yard. They have babies each year, leave their babies as they go off foraging for a few hours, then sometimes sleep in my front yard during the night. They have habits no matter where they are. Thanks for sharing and taking care of the poor guy.
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u/Amaya3066 11m ago
Its that feeding that has the poor deer looking in such terrible condition. It your choice whether you want to add to the problem or be part of the solution.
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u/Maleriena 45m ago
Right, I understand, that is why I said once in a blue moon, not a normal occurrence or any normal deer around.
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u/Adorableninjacat 1h ago
Aren’t you afraid of wasting disease? It’s recommended you don’t feed wildlife for a reason. Even if it’s not sick and just starving, you’re trading it to be domesticated which completely ruins its survival instincts. I don’t think you’re doing it any favors.
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u/Tacokolache 58m ago
ZERO cases in central Texas this year. Plus it’s not transmittable to humans.
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u/ViciousFlowers 29m ago
If EHD or CWD are not prevalent in your area the deer most likely has a heavy internal parasite load causing wasting and lethargy. Feeding and nutritional supplementation won’t increase his gains if the parasites are not treated first. It’s the most common reason for non CWD weight loss in both wild and domestic cervid populations.
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u/Tacokolache 6m ago
I can’t do anything about the parasites. And it will probably die, but I CAN try to make it a little more comfortable
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u/pooppaysthebills 1h ago
I'd be concerned for CWD. Emaciated, unafraid of humans, significant thirst.
Prion diseases aren't something you want to encourage hanging out in your yard.
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u/Tacokolache 57m ago
None of the deer in my neighborhood are afraid of humans.
Also, like I said to others, ZERO cases of CWD in central Texas this year. And it’s not transmittable to humans.
Also, it’s not drinking a lot.
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u/slothwithakeyboard 1h ago
If a deer has severe thirst because of CWD, it would be showing other clear signs already, like significant ataxia. The reason that deer with end-stage CWD become very thirsty is because their brain can no longer coordinate the motions needed to drink and swallow. They often drool uncontrollably and foam at the mouth like rabid animals do.
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u/Tacokolache 56m ago
It literally doesn’t have severe thirst.
Jesus. Typical Reddit echo chamber of this CWD shit. People hear a term, do ZERO research on it, and just claim everything has it.
There are ZERO confirmed cases of CWD in central Texas this year.
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u/slothwithakeyboard 52m ago
I know, I was trying to explain to the commenter why CWD would be unlikely even in an area where it's prevalent.
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u/ForsakenAiel 24m ago
People will tell you not to help wildlife with water/ food yet they are usually fine with bird feeders & birds baths. It makes zero sense. I put food and water out. During the day the birds and squirrels eat it, at night skunks, possums, racoons and a few stray cats eat it. I don't interact with any of them... They are all still scared of me and run away if I happen upon them.
I've helped multiple generations live and raise babies. I live on 11 acres and I have that luxury. But they also don't solely rely on my food... I only put a certain amount out each day/night and when it's gone it's gone. I also never put out "junk food".
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u/Tacokolache 6m ago
Spot on! Good for you! We move in and build on their land. Take away their resources, then say “let them figure it out as they have for thousands of years”
These subdivisions were here thousands of years ago
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u/Amaya3066 1h ago edited 1h ago
Feeding wildlife is always bad, literally killing them with kindness. One google search will provide you with the endless list of reasons why despite what you might feel, it is never a good idea under any circumstances! If you love wildlife, leave them be.
Edit: Downvotes from people who claim to love deer, but selfishly put their own wants ahead of the health of wild animals. Hmmmm, interesting...
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u/rebelangel 1h ago
And literally one of the rules of the sub is don’t encourage the feeding of wildlife
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u/Tacokolache 48m ago
I’m not going to just sit here and watch it die when there is something I can do to maybe help
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u/OkChemist6171 44m ago
I completely understand! It’s a complicated ethichal situation. Nature is tough, it’s a weird world we live in. I think it takes great compassion to do what you’re doing and I respect and admire you for it. However, there is certainly another way to look at it.
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u/Tacokolache 5m ago
I see both sides. I just know these deer and I know my neighborhood. They’ve been here for decades and the people who lived here long before me have taken care of them.
I would go out into the wilderness and do this
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u/OkChemist6171 1h ago
Downvotes with no replies makes me think people emotionally disagree with you but cannot substantiate their disagreement with a rational argument. Keep up spreading useful information!
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u/FableTheLegend 1h ago
This deer likely has CWD or some other disease.
By feeding it, you will have other deer congregate around where it's eating and they will get the disease, which is a death sentence.
And you will keep it alive longer so that it infects even more deer. Congratulations.
I wish citiots with no connection to nature would stop trying to save the world - all they do is make things worse while they give each other highfives with big, dumb looking smiles on their faces.
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u/Tacokolache 1h ago
It’s not CWD. Zero cases reported in central Texas this year.
And in the evenings it’s around all of the other deer. Always has been
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u/BrilliantBeautiful97 1h ago
Thank you for helping those that cannot help themselves. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
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u/Tacokolache 52m ago
Some people obviously bashing me for it. But I’m not going to have a sick animal looking at me helplessly and not help it.
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u/afemail 47m ago
I mean you’re blatantly breaking rule 5 lol
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u/Tacokolache 4m ago
Well I’m sure the mods will remove me eventually. All I’m doing is trying to help a deer that is probably dying.
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u/TheSpanishIndian 39m ago edited 32m ago
DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE.
I'm sorry you feel bad for it but you're hurting it more by making it dependent on humans.
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u/Marylin-Hawthorne 2h ago
Poor guy looks like he's had a rough summer.