BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State on Friday announced deer and moose feeding regulations, in an attempt to prevent the spread of disease.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) said the new regulations would help curb other negative effects on wildlife and habitat across the state.
"Feeding deer and moose can artificially increase populations and change behavior, causing harm to people, wildlife, and the environment," DEC Commissioner, Basil Seggos, said in a statement.
"These new requirements strike a necessary balance between preventing the negative effects of deer feeding while recognizing the increased public health threat posed by tick-borne diseases and make an exception to allow the use of certain devices designed to kill ticks on deer."
The DEC specifically cited chronic wasting disease as an issue. New York first prohibited deer feeding in 2002, but has since broadened the regulations.
Among the new regulations is a clarification that an incidental feeding, such as a deer or moose being attracted to a bird feeder, would be considered a violation only "if DEC has previously issued a written warning to the person responsible for the incidental feeding."
Another regulation targets the sale and marketing of food products that could be illegally used to attract deer or moose. Those food products would have a label "clearly stating that such use is illegal in New York."
