Living with Deer

Brochure [PDF]

For the past 150 years Mankato has been a city on the river. Benefits of this include beauty and wildlife. Each year, during the City Calendar photograph contest, one of the frequent beauty shot entries is deer. However, it's like anything, sometimes we can experience too much of a good thing. It's a repeated issue that's confronted many cities in Minnesota. Some say this is what has happened with deer in the area, which is why the City of Mankato has embarked on a public information effort called Living with Deer. It's a plan that is practical, basic and multi-faceted, aimed to capitalize on timing...going into winter when deer are most likely to be fed; and in the spring during planting season.

Although the backyard feeding of wildlife may give the feeling of intimacy with nature and to help animals survive, it is not always best for the animals. Thus, the City Council enacted an ordinance (City Code–Section 9.76) to prohibit feeding deer in Mankato.

Mankato City Ordinance
Section 9.76 of the Mankato City Code

Prohibition
No person shall feed or allow the feeding of deer within any area of the City of Mankato. For the purpose of this section, feeding shall mean provision of one-half cubic foot or more of grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay or other edible material, either on the ground or at a height of less than five (5) feet above the ground, in a manner that attracts deer on a regular basis. Living food sources such as fruit trees and other vegetation, shall not be considered as deer feeding.

Exceptions
This prohibition shall not apply to veterinarians, city animal control officers and park maintenance staff or county, state or federal game officials who in the course of their duties have deer in their custody or under their management.