Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Little known laws: Don't feed the deer
Have you ever seen a deer wandering near your house and thought it looked thin?
While you might have thought the deer needed something to eat, what you probably didn't know is that feeding that deer could get you in trouble with the law.
According to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, it is illegal in the commonwealth to feed deer from Sept. 1 through the first Saturday in January.
The regulation went into effect in 2006 to try and prevent unnaturally increasing population numbers of the animals, which can carry disease and be a menace to drivers.
Virginia residents need to always remember that deer are wild animals, not pets, so they should not attempt to domesticate them.
“Fed deer are often emboldened to seek human foods, leading them into conflict with people,” according to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site. “Despite their gentle appearance, they can become lethally dangerous during mating season, capable of goring and slashing with their sharp hooves and antlers.”
This law does not restrict the planting of crops.
If you see someone feeding a deer, call the Wildlife Crime Line at 1-800-237-5712.
You must be logged in to post a comment.