Supplemental feeding of wild deer, elk, and other ungulates is common but has complex welfare and ecological implications. Evidence-based approaches maximize benefits and reduce harms.
Supplemental feeding of wild ungulates creates a welfare dilemma between reducing individual starvation suffering and increasing disease transmission risk across populations. The net welfare outcome depends on local context including disease prevalence, winter severity, and population density. Feeding that creates disease outbreaks may cause far more suffering than it prevents. Evidence-based guidance varies by region and disease presence.