A Colorado woman invites a deer inside for dinner, video shows. She faces charges

If you’re planning to feed any deer, officials say you should be prepared to pay a hefty fine.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said a woman was luring deer into her home to feed them trays of human food. Another homeowner was also feeding deer in his yard, causing the deer to rush over when the resident was outside, according to officials.

Both parties were charged for feeding the deer and could have to pay a $100 fine for every time they fed the deer, the news release said.

“It is selfish and unethical to feed big-game,” Area Wildlife Manager Mark Lamb said in the news release. “You are going to end up unintentionally killing those animals and also putting yourself in harm’s way. If what you want is a pet or just to connect with an animal, choose a domestic breed that has evolved to live with people.”

Parks and Wildlife said attracting deer to property with food can cause trouble for the deer and humans. It can cause animals to group together in one area and can disrupt the animals’ migration patterns.

“If you are training deer to come and stay in your backyard, you are asking mountain lions to be in your neighborhood as well,” Lamb said.

Big-game animals can also die if they are fed the wrong food, the news release said. Regardless if someone thinks feeding is the right thing to do, it is illegal.

In certain areas of Colorado, wildlife officers had to contact a dozen people in January for feeding big game.

“I commonly find that mountain residents believe feeding deer and elk is a helpful and harmless act, but doing so habituates these animals to people in ways that completely alter the natural distribution of elk and deer and disrupts their natural wild behavior,” wildlife officer Joe Nicholson said in the news release. “Turning your yard into a virtual zoo by feeding deer and elk is not safe for people, not healthy for wildlife and is truly a selfish act.”

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 1:34 PM with the headline "A Colorado woman invites a deer inside for dinner, video shows. She faces charges."