By Thomas Smith

‘Mooch’, the white-tailed deer has become the poster child for the issues with feeding deer in Haliburton. Nicknamed by Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary founder Monika Melichar, Mooch can be seen begging for food outside of the Independent in Haliburton.

Two weeks ago, Melichar received several phone calls regarding a deer that was wandering around Haliburton County Road 21, getting pet by visitors, and being fed apples in the Independent parking lot.

All of these acts were committed by Mooch, a rotund white-tailed deer (The sex of Mooch has not been identified yet). Mooch has been able to learn that people are getting food from the Independent. Recently, Mooch has been spotted pocking its head in people’s grocery bags, following customers to their car, and stealing items from people’s shopping bags.

On Jan. 17, Melichar set out to find Mooch and assess his health, after concerned citizens notified her of his presence.

“He’s a perfectly healthy young yearling. There’s nothing wrong with him,” said Melichar. “He is super fat and healthy.”

Mooch is a part of the herd of deer that lives behind the Independent grocery store in Haliburton, around Industrial Park Road. The herd of deer are also fed by the Feed and Seed store on Mallard Road, says Melichar.

Frequently wandering away from the herd, Mooch has become totally unconcerned with humans, vehicles and any commotion in the parking lot.

On Jan. 18, Melichar received a call about a white-tailed that had been hit on the road in front of the Independent. Fearing the worst, she hopped in her car.

The deer in the ditch was not Mooch. Unfortunately, the deer was critically injured and required to be euthanized by OPP officers.

Mooch could have very well been the deer that was struck. Melichar described what people are doing to Mooch as “killing with kindness.”

Melichar is desperate for people to think twice before feeding Mooch and other deer. Coaxing and feeding a wild animal is dangerous. Humans have a tendency to feed wild animals, leading to their euthanization.

Freya, a young female walrus from Norway was euthanized in 2021 after she received increased attention from tourists. After sinking several boats while hauling out and chasing one woman into the water, Directorate of Fisheries sought the advice of a local veterinarian. The veterinarian concluded that Freya was not getting enough rest and was stressed out. Fearing for people’s safety, the Directorate of Fisheries made the decision to euthanize Freeya with a rifle. They decided not to sedate her and transport her to a zoo in fear of her drowning to death.

In 2019, a young black bear from Hagg Lake, Oregon was euthanized after it had become accustomed to being fed by humans. People began to frequently take selfies with it, while giving it human food. This bear, as well as many other food-conditioned bears are euthanized across Canada every year.

Melichar says that if Mooch becomes a danger to people, it is likely he could be euthanized as well.

Melichar has also considered taking Mooch to her wildlife facility, where he could be rehabilitated with a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

“There is no reason to take him out of the wild, except that he has become a problem child,” said Melichar.

An adult male deer can weigh up to 300 or 400 pounds. If Mooch is a male deer, he can become exceptionally strong and demanding, says Melichar. Mooch would have the potential to bunt people, kick people, and knock them over.

“If he is a buck, he will become a problem,” said Melichar.

Feeding Mooch apples and carrots not only poses a danger to people, but a danger to the deer’s own health.

A deer has specialized gut flora that changes with the seasons, says Melichar. In the winter, deer are browse feeders. Their diets typically consist of woody substances such as shrubs, shoots, twigs, and acorns. In the summer, deer become more accustomed to eating lush and juicy vegetation, similar to things like carrots and apples. Due to the consistent feeding done by residents and businesses in Haliburton,  Melichar says starvation is not likely.

Corn is one of deer’s favourite treats. Often used as an attractant, deer love the sweetness of corn. It provides them a sugar high and insulin rush, but corn can cause bloating and kill a white-tailed deer. Especially when corn is mixed with molasses, deer can hardly resist such tasty treats, potentially leading to death by bloating. In addition to bloat, food-conditioned deer are more likely to develop the condition known as Aladdin’s slippers. When deer are not walking far for food sources, their hooves become overgrown and become quite painful. Unable to walk on their hooves, deer with Aladdin’s slippers bear all of their weight on their ankles, leading to injuries or death.

Melichar knows that many people are not going to cease feeding deer in Haliburton.

Dysart enacted a complete ban on deer feeding in November of 2023 and citizens are still divided on the issue. Some say that feeding deer lures them into the city where they can be hit and others say that it is a necessity to keep the deer alive after human destruction of their habitat and food sources. County resident Phil Primavera has said that he will never stop feeding the deer, no matter how many fines he receives from the township.

Melichar advises the public that if you are going to feed deer, to feed them a mixture of rolled oats and corn. At her wildlife sanctuary, the deer are fed a mixture of three parts oats and one part corn, which she says the deer still go ‘buck-wild’ over. Grains, rolled oats, bird feed, and even cut cedar branches make excellent deer feed. If you are feeding deer at your house, it is advised to feed them in your backyard as far away from the road as possible.

“Confronting somebody that thinks that they are doing a good thing is hard,” said Melichar. Approaching deer like Mooch and giving them an apple gives people a fuzzy feeling. People’s egos are rewarded as you think you are doing an act of kindness, says Melichar.

“They don’t love us, all we are is a handout,” said Melichar.

Melichar advises anyone that sees deer in the Independent parking lot, to shoo them away. It is important to approach people feeding the deer and educate them that feeding deer like Mooch is not an act of kindness, but one that can lead to their death.

Melichar has reached out to the Independent for comment, but has not received a reply. She intends to put up flyers advising people to not feed the deer, but will only do so when she has permission.

Melichar receives a phone call about a deer that has been struck on the road daily. Often, two to four deer can be struck in a single day.

In order to keep Mooch and other deer safe in Haliburton, deer need to remain afraid of humans. With one deer already lost from Mooch’s herd, humans have the responsibility to cease interfering with the wildlife in Haliburton County before irreparable damage is done.