Winter weather is tough enough on white-tailed deer populations, and domestic dogs on the loose will only exacerbate the situation!
I can recall one morning a couple of winters ago as I was leaving for work, the howl of a barking animal in the back field broke the early morning silence. At first I thought it was a coyote but its distinctive domestic canine sound reverberated.
One of my neighbour’s dogs had apparently gotten loose and was chasing deer through the field!
My heart sank as I knew the implications. The deer I was feeding at the time, which included an orphaned fawn and a buck with a bad leg (pictured above) were not seen again for more than a week.
I never did locate the dog, but evidently it had put the run on them good as my lame buck returned limping worse than ever. Less than 3 weeks later that same buck could walk no more and the Ottawa Police were called-in to have it put down.
The incident was a first-hand reminder of why we must control our pets especially during wintertime!
Pet owners who allow their animals to run wild -regardless of the breed – are not only breaking the law, their actions can be devastating for deer at a fragile time of year. MNR Conservation Officers deal with belligerent pet-owners every winter and are authorized to destroy any dogs observed chasing or injuring deer in areas where herds gather for the winter. Penalties for allowing your dog to be at large during the closed season for deer, range anywhere from $155 up to $25,000.
Both domestic and feral dogs can create undue stress for whitetails as they gather in yards for protection. At this time of year, when deer subsist largely off fat reserves, the simple act of running through deep snow can drain much needed energy reserves, and leave the animals unable to cope with cold winter temperatures. Winter stress is also directly proportional to the health of fawns born in the spring.
Should you witness any dogs on the loose in your area, please call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time.