The residents and elected officials of Mt. Lebanon have come under fire from animal rights activists because “we” have decided that the deer population has burgeoned out of control and the herd must be thinned. Out-of-town protesters scoff at residents’ complaints about what the deer leave behind — feces, big piles of it. Some people find five or six piles every day. It’s not just the smell. People worry about dogs that love to eat it. So I sought advice from experts.
Are deer feces harmful to dogs?
“That’s a totally valid question,” said Justin Brown, wildlife veterinarian for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Management. “I think there are unresolved issues, and more research may be needed.”
Deer and other wildlife often have intestinal parasites, what non-veterinarians would call “worms,” which along with their larvae can be excreted. Dogs, cats or people cannot get worms from touching or eating feces, Mr. Brown said.
Feces generally contain bacteria, including E. coli, “some strains more serious than others,” he said. “I really don’t see a huge problem” if dogs eat feces, although they might get diarrhea.
“Gastrointestinal problems are one of the most common things seen by veterinarians,” Mr. Brown said, and it can be hard to pinpoint the cause. A vet may advise several days on a bland diet or prescribe antibiotics for more serious upsets. [Timmy, the dog loves deer poop and once had to go on a bland diet for a couple of days. No big deal. Deer feces is like caviar to dogs.]
Will deer feces harm your grass, flowers and vegetables? I asked Denise Schreiber, the horticultural consultant known as “Mrs. Know It All” on KDKA Radio 1020..."You can immediately apply fresh deer feces to your garden beds, she said. Work it into the soil or use it as “side dressing” along the edges of gardens. Or, use a rake to spread it out over the yard, where it will fertilize your grass and the soil beneath it."
Update August 1, 2015 10:46 PM From Rep. Dan Miller's end of July newsletter:
