Are those who enjoy watching wildlife killing our nation's wild quail by filling game and bird feeders with corn? This is the intriguing question posed this week by Ray Sasser, outdoors columnist with the Dallas Morning News.

Sasser quotes John Cox, a wildlife biologist, who has abandoned feeding corn in his personal feeders in favor of black-eyed peas, which Cox said work just as well. Why? Black-eyed peas, unlike corn and other small seeds, do not become contaminated with aflatoxin, a deadly toxin that has been known to slowly poison wildlife. Many biologists now believe aflatoxin growing on corn provided in feeders might be at least partly responsible for dwindling populations of quail in many parts of their natural range.

Secondary effects of aflatoxin, according to John Rollins, a West Texas quail expert, include diminished immunity, which makes birds more susceptible to disease. Feeding corn or other seed grains helps congregate quail, so disease can spread more readily.

Feeders can also become tainted with aflatoxin. Loading contaminated feeders with clean corn — even corn that is certified 100 percent aflatoxin free — means clean corn will soon be contaminated as well. Cleaning out feeders with disinfectant or a power washer will eliminate the problem, but how many hunters or wildlife watchers are willing to do this?

The problem, of course, is more widespread in Texas and other states where the feeding of deer during hunting seasons — also known as baiting — is both common and legal.

Hunting deer over or near bait is not legal in either Missouri or Illinois. If hunting is not involved, however, it is legal to feed wildlife for the purposes of wildlife viewing and photography.

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