Anoka County Added To Growing List Of Minnesota Counties Under Deer Feeding And Attractant Ban

Anoka County Added To Growing List Of Minnesota Counties Under Deer Feeding And Attractant Ban

Anoka County, MN – In a critical move to curb the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) among Minnesota's wild deer population, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has officially added Anoka County to its list of counties under a deer feeding and attractant ban. This decision, announced on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, is a precautionary measure taken after CWD was detected in wild deer in new areas of the state last year, triggering automatic bans in affected regions and surrounding areas.

Anoka County joins seven other counties — Clay, Ramsey, Sherburne, Steele, Traverse, Wilkin, and Wright — newly added to the ban, bringing the statewide total to 32 counties where deer feeding and attractant use is now prohibited.

Understanding the Ban and Its Purpose:

The deer feeding and attractant ban is a key tool in the DNR's comprehensive CWD response plan. Its primary goal is to prevent the unnatural congregation of deer, which significantly increases the risk of CWD transmission.

According to Paul Burr, acting big game program coordinator for the DNR, deer are social animals that can spread CWD through direct contact, such as licking, and indirectly through the environment. The infectious proteins (prions) that cause CWD can be shed through deer saliva, urine, feces, blood, and even antler velvet, and can persist on surfaces in the environment for years. Concentrating deer around a food source dramatically heightens the chances of both direct and indirect transmission.

What the Ban Prohibits:

The ban makes it illegal to:

• Place or distribute food capable of attracting or enticing deer (e.g., grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, hay).
• Use natural or manufactured products intended to attract or entice deer, such as liquid food scents, salt or minerals, or any product containing cervid urine, blood, gland oil, feces, or other bodily fluids.

The DNR has clarified that the ban does not cover natural or manufactured products without added attractants, allowing hunters to use items like non-scented ropes or mock scrapes without added scents. Normal agricultural practices for livestock feeding are generally exempt, though cattle operators are advised to minimize contact between deer and cattle.

Recommendations for Residents:

Even in areas outside the ban, the Minnesota DNR strongly recommends that the public refrain from feeding deer. Burr emphasized that while people enjoy seeing deer and believe they are helping, "you're doing more harm than you are good." Instead, the DNR encourages efforts to improve natural habitat to provide long-term food resources and shelter.

For those who feed birds or small mammals, the ban requires that food be placed in a manner that prevents deer access, such as at least six feet above ground level, or by using deer-proof fencing around feeding sites.

The Threat of Chronic Wasting Disease:

CWD is a fatal, infectious neurological disease that affects cervids (deer, moose, elk, and reindeer/caribou). It causes the brain to deteriorate, leading to symptoms such as drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, drooling, confusion, and loss of fear of humans. While no direct link to human infection has been recorded, it remains a serious concern for wildlife managers. CWD prions are extremely resilient and can survive in the environment for extended periods, making the disease particularly challenging to manage once established.

The addition of Anoka County to the ban list reflects the DNR's proactive approach to detecting and containing CWD as it emerges in new regions, safeguarding Minnesota's wild deer population for future generations. Residents are encouraged to visit the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/cwd/feedban.html) for detailed information on the ban, affected counties, and CWD management efforts.

MinneapoliMedia