The recent cold snap and frequent snowfall have brought deer and elk down from the mountains and into towns, but officials are urging residents to ignore the animals.

"When you get a little bit more snow, you will see more deer coming down into the yards and such," he said.

The deer usually will show up in the evenings, going from house to house looking for shrubs. Root said many residents are tempted to feed the animals when they venture into yards. Although feeding the animals is just human nature, it may do more harm than good.

"Some people will give them hay," he said. "Their stomachs aren't really oriented for that this time of year."

Feeding deer and elk can actually be hazardous to their health. Root said the animals' diet changes in the winter, and they cannot digest hay, straw or other foods. A deer can starve to death even with a full belly of hay.

While the feeding can be dangerous to deer and elk, Root said it can be a bad idea for humans as well. The animals will return to the locations where they have found food and will stay in the towns, instead of the foothills.

Feeding the deer can cause them to congregate and spread disease more easily, as well as become accustomed to being fed by humans. Root said a bird feeder at his own home attracts deer every year because they know the food will be there. This causes a hazard for drivers.

Root said a danger for deer and humans is the possibility of a car accident, which could kill the animal and cause significant harm to a person.

"Anytime you have wild deer by humans, the deer are going to lose," he said.

Root said if the deer are continually attracted to the homes in town, their predators may be tempted to follow.

When the deer come into neighborhoods, they are often chased through town by dogs, so dogs should be kept in yards and away from the animals, according to the DWR Web site.

Springville police Lt. Dell Gordon said the number of deer in the city has dramatically increased this year. While most reports to the police are concerning traffic accidents with the animals, he said people have seen an increasing number in their yards as well.

"I'm one of them," he said. "They've eaten all my shrubs, and I've never gotten any before."

Gordon said there are accidents involving deer every year, but the number has increased significantly this winter. While there is usually only one accident per week, Gordon said there have been four or five in the last week.

Many residents in Springville live near the mountains and are accustomed to seeing deer, but two of the accidents in the last week were on Main Street. Gordon said there have been plenty of sightings in the canyon, but there have been reports all over town, even west of the freeway.

If residents do come in contact with deer in their neighborhood, Root said the best thing to do is just ignore the animals. The best place for the animals to be is in the foothills or higher, so residents should not do anything to attract them into their yard.

"Bottom line is, we don't want people feeding the deer. Ever," he said.

Although the deer are leaving the mountain areas to look for food, Root said they are not starving and do not need to be fed. In the areas where deer do need food, it should be left to DWR. The agency has been monitoring the deer closely, and they are doing well.

"We really do believe that with these warmer temperatures, they're going to be just fine," he said.