Earlier this summer, a wild buck in Ohio decided to stay a while and make himself part of the family. The deer, nicknamed Benny by the Schnells of Ashland, shows up at their home most mornings and evenings. He eats corn right out of their hands and hops along the backyard fence to play with the kids. Videos of his (very regular) visits have been stealing the hearts of everyone who sees them online, and you’ve got to admit by now that Benny is one adorable guest.
It started earlier this year, according to mom Mattie Schnell. Her husband, an avid hunter, was near the house when the buck simply walked right up to him. He happened to have bags of corn in the garage, so he offered some. Benny ate it straight from his hand, no hesitation. From then on, the family started putting corn out, and the deer kept coming back.
Now Benny is a regular. He turns up morning and night for his corn, and he’s comfortable enough with the family that the kids can play with him. He even brings guests, a couple of other young bucks and a doe, though none of them are brave enough to approach the humans the way he does. For the Schnells, it’s become a small daily delight. For Benny, apparently, it’s a reliable buffet with friendly staff.
None of that is in doubt. The joy is real, and so is the bond. The thing is, wildlife experts would gently but firmly wave you off doing this yourself. There are good reasons to admire Benny from a bit more of a distance, and most of them are about protecting Benny.
Why Feeding a Wild Buck is Riskier Than It Looks
The heart of the concern is habituation. A wild deer that gets fed by people slowly loses its natural wariness of humans. That fear is what normally keeps it safe. A deer as comfortable as Benny, walking up to strangers and eating from hands, will approach other people too, and not everyone is friendly. Wildlife agencies actually discourage feeding deer for exactly this reason, and in some places it’s against the rules.
There’s also the danger a bold buck can pose. Bucks grow more aggressive in the fall breeding season, and a large one that has no fear of people can hurt someone, sometimes badly. Feeding also gathers deer together in one spot, which helps spread illnesses like chronic wasting disease through a herd. None of this is a knock on the Schnells, who clearly adore Benny. It’s just the reality that comes with the corn.
Benny’s Bittersweet History
There’s an irony in this particular story, too. Benny was first won over by a hunter, and a deer that has lost its fear of humans is far easier for any hunter to approach, not just a friendly one. A tame buck is a vulnerable buck, whether the threat is a car, a stranger, or a hunting season. Sadly, habituated deer that grow too bold sometimes end up being put down when they become a problem. The very trust that makes Benny so endearing is also what puts him most at risk.
None of that makes the video any less lovely to watch. It just means the kindest thing for a deer like Benny is usually to admire him without the corn, letting him stay wild enough to look after himself. Plenty of families get to enjoy backyard deer that way, at a respectful distance. Benny found himself a generous household, and for now he’s thriving on it. Here’s hoping he stays lucky and stays a little wild too.