Sunshine Coast Conservation officer says several deer with foundering disease have been found in the Halfmoon Bay area and reminds residents not to feed wildlife.
In an email to Coast Reporter, BC Conservation Officer Service (BCCOS)’s Dean Miller said over the past nine years the Conservation Officer Service has responded to “a significant number” of deer showing physical signs of foundering disease in the Welcome Woods area of Halfmoon Bay, including one case in February this year when they were called to a deer that was no longer mobile due to this disease.
In this case, the deer was euthanized by officers as no recovery options were available, said Miller.
Deer foundering, or Laminitis, is usually caused by a sudden nutritional imbalance caused by a diet high in fermentable carbohydrates.
This causes metabolic imbalance and reduced blood flow to extremities, particularly the hooves, which leads to inflammation of the tissues that support the bones of the foot.
Miller explained this is painful for the animal and may lead to long-term lameness, abnormal growth and altering of the hoof shape, eventually reducing the functioning of the deer’s organs when inflammation occurs.
While provincial law does not prohibit the feeding of ungulate populations, local conservation wants the public to understand there is harm related to this activity including disease, behavioural changes, and motor vehicle accidents.
Miller said wild ungulates have specialized seasonal food requirements, which they fulfill by eating a wide variety of foods from their environment. Unnatural foods may be higher in carbohydrates or have a different macronutrient or mineral composition, which may not meet the needs of the ungulate.
Additionally, providing food for wildlife can lead them to congregate increasing the risk of infectious disease and intraspecific stress.
“A resident may believe that feeding deer is helping or saving wildlife when, in fact, they are causing irreversible harm from the various effects mentioned above,” said Miller in the email.
“The overarching concept of managing these species is to promote wild patterns and behaviours which will in turn promote the help of the overall population of deer.”
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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