(An email response I just sent out... yeah, things are getting rough out there.)

"Hey, Tina,

I share your concern for the deer in town... although I suspect those out in the country would love to have it so good. A couple weeks ago all the deer I looked at were still sleek and healthy, but these past few weeks have been rough.

Naturally, we don't encourage feeding, for the reasons you mentioned. And I suspect providing a shelter would have the same problems (although I have seen deer using old barns, so a stable would probably be attractive, provided it was wide open on one or two sides). A more practical idea might be to try to divert people away from whatever part of the site the deer are trying to use, presumably on the east or south (downwind) sides, and let them sleep in peace.

Another option I have been curious about, but have not seen tried, is providing a source of open water. Deer, of course, need water for themselves, but they also need to maintain a good supply of liquid in their rumens to help digestion. This they get by eating snow, but that has got to steal a few calories of body warmth every time they do. I know ranchers who keep open water available to their stock during the winter just to save that little bit of body heat, and I have wondered if that would help out deer.

Not recommending it, mind you, but if you want to do _something_ to help, keeping a vat of open, warm water available would probably be used if it's in the right spot.

And if you decide to ignore our professional advice (as many do) and decide to supplement the deer's diets, you might look into healthier foods than the usual apples, carrots or lettuce which are primarily water and sugar. There are commercial "deer feed" pellets available which have a better balance of energy and nutrition. (Suspect you could find a source in the internet.)

Thanks for your concern, and sorry it took so long to check our email. Holler of you have questions (or lions)."