They're out there on your lawns and in your bushes, begging for food with their big wide eyes and cute fawns, but there is a city bylaw that prohibits the feeding of those furry urban-dwelling ungulates.
The intentional feeding of deer in the city means to provide deer with food by leaving food, like a bale of hay or a bag of apples, out for the sole purpose of feeding the deer milling about town.
"We just want to let people know about the fawning season, but (at) this time people are starting to plant gardens too," said Chris Zettel, Cranbrook corporate communications officer. "So we just let people know that deliberately feeding deer is still a no-no according to the bylaws."
Fruit and vegetable gardens that are for your own consumption are not prohibited as long as they are not grown to feed the deer. The prohibition also does not apply to farm operations or ornamental plants and flowers.
Violators of the deer feeding bylaw can be fined on an escalating fine schedule that begins at $100 for first offence, $200 for second and $500 for third offence.
To take a look at the Deer Feeding Prohibition Bylaw 3709, 2010, visit the City's website at www.cranbrook.ca. The document is located under "Bylaws & Council Information" then "Bylaws".