— Deer feed mostly on browse, the twigs and leaves of woody plants. Their complex digestive systems cannot adjust to a sudden and dramatic change in diet. Consequently, they cannot digest new and unfamiliar food — like hay, corn or apples — unless it's added to their diet gradually. Deer can literally die of starvation with full stomachs, sometimes within feet of feeding stations.

— Feeding concentrates deer into a smaller area. That can degrade the habitat in these areas and lead to disease outbreaks, particularly outbreaks of chronic wasting disease.

— The larger, stronger deer obtain most of the food. Fawns actually receive less nourishment than they would in the wild, and many of the fawns will die.

— Feeding stations alter the movements of deer. That can affect their migration patterns.

— Providing food too close to roadways can lead to more deer being hit and killed by cars. The number of people who are injured, or even killed in these accidents, can also climb.

— Feeding within or close to neighborhoods can lead to ornamental shrubs and other landscaping being damaged by deer.

— Feeding draws deer closer to developed areas and dogs. Dogs are a serious threat to deer in the winter.

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