Another reason to shoot white-tails ...

Limnophile · March 7, 2015, 06:24 AM

White-tailed deer shown to raid nests, eat eggs and baby birds, USGS reports:
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.s...wn_to_rai.html

Mobuck · March 7, 2015, 08:11 AM

I think in those cases, the deer are starved for calcium and protein. Much better to supplement the deer herd than starve them into raiding bird nests.

buck460XVR · March 7, 2015, 08:52 AM

The last paragraph of that article pretty well sums it up........

Quote:

In actuality, though, Rothwell said no one should consider deer to be major nest depredators.

"It's not a huge problem," Rothwell said, "and it's probably been going on for eons."

Snyper · March 7, 2015, 08:56 AM

Most animals will eat eggs and meat, and most birds nest high enough that it's not a problem

Squirrels eat far more eggs and fledglings than deer ever could, and I've actaully seen Black Rat Snakes climb 50 ft up a tree to raid a nest

kraigwy · March 7, 2015, 09:23 AM

Not just nest, I've caught more then once on my back deck raiding my wife's bird feeders...............turkeys too.

Not because they are starving, they do pretty good eating my hay.

tahunua001 · March 8, 2015, 10:38 AM

all animals will turn carnivorous if it suits their dietary needs.

don't believe me? try cutting the head off a chicken and watch the others rush in to get at the head.

a while back there was a similar stink because deer were found eating gut piles. it was assumed that they were simply after the stomachs as they are often filled with prechewed and semi digested plant material which is excellent for animals getting ready to enter winter hardships. then again hearts are rich in protein, spleens rich in Iron, and liver is rich in potassium, phosphorous, and vitamins A,D,E, and C, more than what is available in any naturally occuring plants so I could easily see an animal that knows it's about to stop dining well(autumn) or has just completed a long period of substandard diet(early spring) coming across a gut pile or a nest full of eggs or chicks and chowing down to fill dietary requirements.

TimSr · March 9, 2015, 03:20 PM

I was surprised to learn that In Ohio deer were eating a lot of newborn baby rabbits in the nest.

FairWarning · March 11, 2015, 07:46 PM

The Wild is not governed by ethics or feelings. Only the Laws of the Wild, one of which is eat or die.

eastbank · March 13, 2015, 06:07 AM

and they taste oh so GOOD! eastbank.

Pilot · March 13, 2015, 06:12 AM

Don't tell PETA. It doesn't fit their agenda.

March 7, 2015, 06:24 AM	#1
Limnophile Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2015 Location: Issaquah, Washington Posts: 1,032	Another reason to shoot white-tails ... White-tailed deer shown to raid nests, eat eggs and baby birds, USGS reports: http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.s...wn_to_rai.html

March 7, 2015, 08:56 AM	#4
Snyper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2013 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 3,047	Most animals will eat eggs and meat, and most birds nest high enough that it's not a problem Squirrels eat far more eggs and fledglings than deer ever could, and I've actaully seen Black Rat Snakes climb 50 ft up a tree to raid a nest __________________ One shot, one kill

March 7, 2015, 09:23 AM	#5
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Not just nest, I've caught more then once on my back deck raiding my wife's bird feeders...............turkeys too. Not because they are starving, they do pretty good eating my hay. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 8, 2015, 10:38 AM	#6
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	all animals will turn carnivorous if it suits their dietary needs. don't believe me? try cutting the head off a chicken and watch the others rush in to get at the head. a while back there was a similar stink because deer were found eating gut piles. it was assumed that they were simply after the stomachs as they are often filled with prechewed and semi digested plant material which is excellent for animals getting ready to enter winter hardships. then again hearts are rich in protein, spleens rich in Iron, and liver is rich in potassium, phosphorous, and vitamins A,D,E, and C, more than what is available in any naturally occuring plants so I could easily see an animal that knows it's about to stop dining well(autumn) or has just completed a long period of substandard diet(early spring) coming across a gut pile or a nest full of eggs or chicks and chowing down to fill dietary requirements. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

March 11, 2015, 07:46 PM	#8
FairWarning Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: GA Posts: 1,149	The Wild is not governed by ethics or feelings. Only the Laws of the Wild, one of which is eat or die. __________________ Mauser Werke, Schmidt-Rubin, Colt, Walther, HK, Weatherby, Sig Sauer, Browning, Ruger, Beretta, etc, etc....a few friends of mine

March 7, 2015, 08:11 AM	#2
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	I think in those cases, the deer are starved for calcium and protein. Much better to supplement the deer herd than starve them into raiding bird nests.

March 9, 2015, 03:20 PM	#7
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	I was surprised to learn that In Ohio deer were eating a lot of newborn baby rabbits in the nest.

March 13, 2015, 06:07 AM	#9
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	and they taste oh so GOOD! eastbank.

March 13, 2015, 06:12 AM	#10
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 4,193	Don't tell PETA. It doesn't fit their agenda. __________________ Pilot