Deer to be Different

The Hidden Importance of Deer in Shaping Ecosystems

Shy  and elusive as they are, deer are often a species on the sidelines, seen grazing in the distance on foggy mornings or glimpsed as a hoof print in the mud, a flash of a white tail or watchful brown eyes among the trees. Sometimes they nibble in our gardens; other times, our closest encounters with them are the tragic kind, on roadsides. Whatever our experiences, deer are more than passing silhouettes. They are a quiet but important part of ecosystems, playing a role far bigger than many realize.

The Beaver Hills Biosphere is home to four out of five species of deer found in Canada, including white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk and moose, which is the largest species in the deer (Cervidae) family. Deer are keystone herbivores, meaning their presence on the landscape directly impacts the plants and animals around them. In a balanced ecosystem, white-tailed deer, for example, play a significant role in enhancing biodiversity and supporting plant growth. By feeding on dense underbrush, they open the forest canopy, allowing more sunlight to reach the ground and enabling smaller plants to flourish. Their droppings enrich the soil with nutrients, helping vegetation thrive and creating a more hospitable environment for insects and other invertebrates. This in turn attracts insect-eating predators like salamanders, which then attract hunters like snakes, ultimately contributing to a more complex and interconnected food web. Deer themselves also serve as prey for top predators, making their presence on the landscape a vital link in the broader ecological chain.

It is essential to recognize that healthy ecosystems thrive on balance. Deer are no exception to this rule. Their presence supports biodiversity and strengthens food webs, but only when their populations remain within healthy and balanced limits. As a keystone species, significant fluctuations in deer populations can ripple through the ecosystem, having widespread effects on countless other species. This makes it vital for us, as humans who share the land with these creatures, to minimize our interference and allow nature to maintain its balance.

As the human population grows, and with the expansion of suburbs and the creation of green spaces within cities, there is a growing risk of human-deer conflicts, which ultimately poses a threat to deer populations. Living in a shared space with deer can create challenges, especially when it comes to landscaping, gardens, vehicle collisions and even attracting predators like cougars or wolves. Fortunately, there are simple steps we can take to help sustain balanced deer populations and coexist with them in harmony.

Here is what you can do:

• Avoid feeding deer or leaving out salt blocks as it alters natural foraging behaviour and can attract large predators.
• Respect deer by keeping your distance or taking an alternative route if you encounter them. If a deer wanders into your yard, simply give it space and it will find its own way out.
• Fawns rely on hiding to stay safe. If you encounter a fawn, do not approach it. The mother will return to nurse it several times a day.
• Remove attractants in your yard by cleaning up fallen fruit and spilled bird seed.
• Don’t let dogs bark or chase deer as it causes stress or could provoke defensive behaviour.
• Protect landscaping by using repellants, fencing or deer-resistant plants.
• Drive carefully and consciously and pay attention to animal crossing road signs. Deer are most active at dawn, dusk, and night, especially near ditches and tree lines and between October to November and April to May.

By taking simple, responsible steps to coexist with deer, we can help sustain a healthy balance between people and wildlife in the Biosphere.

The Biosphere’s Living With Wildlife initiative was launched to create a lasting impact on how residents and visitors interact with wildlife in the Beaver Hills. Taking the Living With Wildlife Pledge means recognizing and respecting all animals, especially those we tend to overlook and take for granted and taking meaningful action to minimize harmful human-wildlife interactions. It acknowledges the place of all species in the natural balance, and advocates for protecting their role in it, no matter how insignificant or familiar they may seem.

Author’s note: As someone whose name is of Osage Indigenous origin, “Niabi” meaning "the little deer that was spared the hunter’s arrow", I have felt deeply appreciative and connected to these gentle creatures my whole life. Writing about their uniqueness and indispensability as a keystone species in the Biosphere and beyond fills me with gratitude and purpose. I took the Living With Wildlife pledge to honor the meaning of my name: to do my part in sparing all wildlife from the unseen arrows of human impact, and to help create a world where wildlife and people can thrive together in harmony.

What will you take the pledge for?