Deer feeding ban starts next week in four counties

[Go Big Red!]

From the online edition of the Star Tribune Feb 9, 2011:

A deer feeding ban will begin in four southeast Minnesota counties Feb. 14, the Department of Natural Resources said Wednesday.

The ban prohibits wild deer feeding in Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted and Wabasha counties, and follows the recent finding that a whitetail doe killed by an archer Nov. 28 near the town of Pine Island, Minn., was infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD).

“The purpose of the ban is to reduce the potential for the disease to spread from deer-to-deer by reducing the number of deer concentration sites,” said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game coordinator. “The disease can spread from one deer to another following nose-to-nose contact, contact with saliva, or other body fluids. By eliminating deer feeding sites we are reducing the potential for the disease to spread.”

In the four counties it will be illegal to place or have out food capable of attracting wild deer. People who feed birds or small mammals must find ways to do so without attracting deer. Or the food must be kept at least 6 feet above ground.

Cattle operators should minimize contact between deer and livestock, the DNR said, though food placed in normal agricultural practices is generally exempted CWD is always fatal to deer, elk and moose, but is not known to affect cattle or humans.

The rule can be viewed online at mndnr.gov/cwd.

DENNIS ANDERSON