While snowmobilers and skiers are revelling in a cold, snow-filled, old-fashioned winter in northern Simcoe County, deer are feeling stressed out as snow is covering their food.
Neighbours in Severn Township are cooperating with one another to feed "their deer" to help them through this snowy winter.
David Nicholls, a local real estate agent, is taking the lead on the project, bringing carrots and corn to a "deer yard" north of Division Road, five to seven times a week.
He put out 136 kilograms (300 pounds) last Sunday, then again Tuesday and Thursday and will do it again today and Sunday.
"It's all disappearing," said Nicholls, pointing to the frozen ground in the yard where there was nothing but tracks and scat. "They need it. There's that many deer."
He estimates there are 40 to 50 deer in an area bounded by Division Road in the south, Warminster Road in the north, Fairgrounds Road to the west and Uhthoff Road to the east. The area is approximately 324 to 405 hectares (800 to 1,000 acres).
"This whole block we consider is our deer," said Nicholls.
The area provides wintering grounds for deer due to its abundance of cedar groves, tributaries of the North River for water and the large space.
During the past few mild winters, deer browsed on the remnants of agricultural fields, where corn, soybeans and alfalfa is grown. This winter there is too much snow for the deer to get any of that.
In addition, it's harder for them to travel any distances in deep snow and coyotes are a constant threat, he added.
Nicholls estimates that he'll put out 11,340 kilograms (25,000 pounds) of food over three months.
"It's really important because the (2024) fawns are only 70 to 80 pounds and it's really hard on them," he said of the conditions.
Nicholls said he found buck antlers early this season and he thinks it's due to the stress of lack of food.
And some does are pregnant. Having access to food means the difference between having no fawn, a single fawn or two fawns in the spring, said Nicholls.
Winter came early with a Nov. 29 snowfall locally of 60 centimetres. It later melted, but then came another snow fall of approximately the same amount over a couple of snowy days.
The hardest part for deer is when a crust forms, he explained.
"When there is a crust, the deer can't scrape down to get food," Nicholls said.
Nicholls and his wife, Edna, are bow hunters but decided years ago to also help feed the deer in "bad winters."
"We are hunters and we may take an animal, but conservation is number one. If you don't conserve them and help them through, they can't reproduce and you won't have any deer," he said.
The feeding yard is located on Peter Gill's farm. Orillia Conservation Club members Andrew Pye and Ritchie Rolston donate large bags of feed corn for the deer. Local beef farmers Allan and Patsy Johnson make regular donations of feed carrots.
"We are so grateful to them," Nicholls said.
"It's a labour of love. My wife Edna and I go out every Saturday and Sunday morning and refurbish. It's a wonderful thing. It makes you feel good," he said.
Nicholls said if anyone wants to help, they can call him at 705-329-8700. He would be happy to meet at Peavey Mart, at 500 Memorial Ave., where bags of corn are sold.
