Deer feeding on privet in winter

In the winter white-tail deer of NC feed on the fruit, leaves and branches of privet, Ligustrum vulgare, where it grows untamed as small trees. Privet is posionous to horses but not to deer. Usually the deer will eat the privet when their supply of mast has been depleted.

Here they come into our yard to eat the privet after a snow storm and the older deer stand up on hind legs to reach the higher branches. We never feed the deer before they eat the privet. We feed them only after the privet is eaten because then they are starving for food.

We have many videos of deer at our place in the middle of game lands controlled by the State of NC. The controlled harvest of deer and our winter feeding contributes to a healthy poulation of the deer.

During this mid-winter time the deer are preyed upon by packs of coyote and feral dogs in the area around our shack. The coyote, dogs, and feral cat population decimate the large and small game population. Their population is not controlled by the state. Some of us who live amidst the game lands do take actions to reduce the population of feral cats and dogs. We also take action against packs of coyotes while leaving the 'lone' coyotes alone.

Hunters on the game lands feed, bait, the deer leading up to the hunting season. Then after the season when the deer are very hungry the hunters are long gone and they forget about helping the remaining deer live to another season.

We do not try to tame the deer and occassionally let our small dog out while they are feeding to keep them 'on their toes' and alert for danger from humans and pets. Our dog has an electronic fence that keeps her away from the feed we put out so she can bark but not bite. The deer seem to know where the fence wire is and the limit of our dog's approach to them. Sometimes a buck will come and taunt the dog knowing the dog will stop before reaching the deer.
dats de truf.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Deer feeding
• deer eat privet
• coyote
• NC game lands