United States Department of Agriculfc 
Bureau of Biological Survey 
Wildlife Research and Management Leaflet 
Washington, D. - C. * 
FALL AND WINTER FOOD HABITS OF DESK IK NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA 
By Shaler E. Aldous, Section of Wildlife Surveys, and Clarence F. Smith, 
Section of Food Habits, Division of Wildlife Research 
Contents 
Page 
Winter food supply 1 
Stomach analyses 2 
Field observations 4 
Surrey of the Jonvick Yard 
Conclusions 
Page 
7 
7 
WINTER FOOD SUPPLY 
The northern white- tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus borealis ) 
is depleting its winter food supply in the Lake States region to such an 
extent as to create a situation that, if not corrected, will have disas- 
trous effects on the animals themselves. The available winter food supply 
is a limiting factor on the deer populations in areas where the animals 
are greatly restricted in movements "oy extreme cold wea,ther and heavy 
snows. Under such conditions the doer often eat the choice foods early 
in winter and then are compelled to subsist upon less nutritious plants 
when their physical condition is poorest. 
In parts of northeastern Minnesota, fires and logging activities 
in the past have improved general conditions for deer, but they have also 
greatly reduced winter cover, especially white cedar and other conifers, 
and have forced the deer to retreat into the remaining clumps of ever- 
greens for winter protection. Because of the small size of many of these 
yarding islands and the heavy concentrations of deer using them, the food 
supply is often insufficient. The area here reported on lies between Lake 
Superior and United States Highway No. 53 from Duluth to International 
Falls, Minn. 
