Deer can sometimes be hard to figure out, but they’re actually quite easy to keep. In fact, aside from the basics of food and water that all animals need you should know deer’s dietary needs by heart because it’s not only important for them but also crucial for your own enjoyment when in their presence.
The “what do deer love to eat the most” is a question that has been asked many times. The answer to this question is “Deer love to eat plants, berries, and other small animals.”
This page is for you if you’ve ever wondered “what do deer eat?”
Today, we’re sharing a comprehensive guide to deer nutrition, as well as answers to frequently asked questions about diet selection, deer-friendly garden plants, deer-resistant vegetables and herbs, the dangers of improper deer winter feeding, and how to properly start and maintain a feeding program.
Does this pique your interest? Let’s get started!
Contents
Do Deer and Cows Eat the Same Food?
To begin, we’d want to dispel a long-held myth. Many people automatically think of cows’ food when they think about a deer’s diet.
Deer are often mentioned using phrases like “there’s lots of green things here, the deer can’t be famished.” They indicate that deer, like cows, would eat anything as long as it is a green plant, which is far from the reality.
In actuality, cows and deer eat such dissimilar foods that they represent opposing extremities of the ruminant diet continuum. Ruminants are herbivorous animals with a unique digesting mechanism that uses fermentation in a four-chambered stomach to absorb nutrients from plant-based foods.
Let’s look at the differences in nutrition and eating habits between cows and deer.
If you look at a cow from above, you’ll see that it has a big snout and a broad tongue, which it utilizes to eat a wide range of plant species, with a preference for grasses.
The rumen (first stomach chamber) of a cow is huge enough to hold at least 49 liters of food. It’s one of the world’s densest microbial environments, with a varied population of bacteria, protozoa, yeasts, and other species cooperating to break down ingested feed via a fermentation process (a specialty function for digesting specific groups of plants).
This is why cows can digest grasses, despite the fact that grasses are the most fibrous and indigestible of plants. As a result, cattle are categorised as “roughage eaters,” a kind of ruminant.
Whitetail deer, on the other hand, are classified as “concentration selectors” since they are the most frequent big land animal in North America. From above, it’s clear that this deer species’ snouts are small and sharply pointed to aid them in reaching inside plants and consuming particular sections.
The tongue of a whitetail deer is long and slender, allowing it to collect fluids from succulent leaves and stems. Their rumen holds roughly 2 liters of liquid, which is about 4% of the volume of a cow’s rumen.
Deer not only have smaller rumens, but their microbial ecosystem is also far less diversified. As a result, deer must replenish their rumen with food every few hours to keep the more specialized flora and fauna alive.
What Factors Influence Deer Food Choices?
The challenge now is: how do deer determine what to eat with a smaller rumen and a lot less diversified microbial presence? To better understand how whitetail deer diet selection works, let’s first look at what these animals are supposed to eat.
Deer’s structure, physiology, and behavior drive them to pick certain forms of food that are not subject to competition from other forage eaters such as cattle, moose, and elk. Deer have short snouts and long, thin tongues that enable them to access certain plant portions, as previously noted.
Deer also have very active salivary glands that release enzymes to break down secondary plant chemicals that may be difficult for other animals to digest. Take tannins, for example.
Deer are able to ingest acorns in quantities that would kill a cow without these enzymes. Furthermore, because of their smaller and less sophisticated digestive tracts, they need a diet of better quality forages that are easier to break down than forages ingested by cattle, moose, and elk.
The variation in diet is due to the speed with which both animal groups digest their food. So, whereas cattle and elk may get enough nutrition from lower-quality forages like mature grasses, whitetails’ faster digestive processes need food components that are more easily digested to meet their energy and nutritional needs.
Whitetail deer have apparently starved to death in extremely overpopulated and impoverished areas, with bellies full of low-quality forages.
Deer eat a variety of foods, including browse (leafy parts of woody plants), forbs (herbaceous wide-leaved plants or weeds, such as agricultural crops), hard and soft mast (seeds and fruits), grass, and mushrooms/lichens in general. Nonetheless, seasonal fluctuations in fodder supply, quality, and the metabolic needs of the animal at the time of feeding influence diet choices.
How Many Plant Species Do Deer Eat?
We’d be here for a very long time if we made a list of all the plant species that deer consume. Whitetail deer, for example, have been seen to devour over 400 different plant species solely in the Southeast.
Deer need to sample from a wide variety of plant species on a frequent basis in order to maintain seeking new sources of nutrients. Nonetheless, the bulk of deer diets were found to include just a modest amount of forages.
According to a recent research, deer ingest approximately 140 plant species, yet just roughly a third of those plants account for 93% of their total diet.
What Food Do Deer Prefer?
Let’s go a little more specific about the sorts of food that deer love. Deer like browse, forbs, grasses, mast, and mushrooms, as previously stated.
The availability of each of these food groups varies depending on the time of year and environmental conditions in a given place.
- Browse is the term for the leafy sections of plants, such as shrubs or young trees, that are within deer’s reach. It is also the most often ingested food item by deer.
The explanation for this is simple: browse plants are always readily accessible, regardless of the season or weather. Deer will always be able to locate them in some manner.
While dryness and cold weather may cause browsing plants to lose their leaves, their stems and twigs retain significant nutritional content, unlike forbs that just disappear.
- Despite the fact that forbs are whitetail deer’s favorite meal, they don’t eat them nearly as much as browse, according to research. Unreliability is the explanation behind this.
Although forbs are more digestible and nutrient-dense than browse, they aren’t always available when deer need them. Forbs do not grow as well as tough browse due to low weather and lengthy droughts, therefore they are not a stable food source.
- Mast consists of acorns, nuts, seeds, and fruits in general. During times of thermal stress or aggressive development of the body and antlers, they’re a wonderful supply of energy.
Grapes, plums, blackberries, and mulberries are among the fruits that deer like. These are high-carbohydrate, high-energy diets that are especially beneficial for antler development. Energy-dense apples and pears are other soft fruits that deer like in the autumn.
When it comes to nuts, acorns and chestnuts are the two most significant food items in a deer’s diet, each serving a particular nutritional requirement.
The fat and carbohydrate content of acorns is high, while the protein content is minimal. Chestnuts, on the other hand, are high in protein and have less tannins, making them simpler to digest.
- Mushrooms: Despite providing the second most essential nutrient, phosphorus (together with protein), mushrooms are the most underappreciated food group in a deer’s diet.
- Cereal Grains: Oats, wheat, and rye are among the most popular grains in the diet of a typical deer.
- Grass: While adult grass isn’t a favorite diet of whitetail deer, it does appear on their list of favorites during the early phases of development, when the grass shoots are readily digested.
In my area, what do deer eat?
Most state game agencies, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and agricultural institutions provide literature on the favored deer feeding plants in your state or area. Posters showcasing desirable plant species are also produced by the Quality Deer Management Association.
Here’s a quick overview of what deer love to eat in different places.
- In the Northeastern United States, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Greenbrier, dogwood, and blackberry are the most popular options.
- Maples, sassafras, and staghorn sumac are a close second.
- In the United States of America’s Southeast:
- Japanese honeysuckle, greenbrier, and Alabama supplejack are the most popular varieties.
- Dogwood, maples, and American beautyberry are the second and third choices, respectively.
- In the United States of Central America:
- Common snowberry, quaking aspen, and dogwood are the most popular choices.
- Skunkbush sumac, bearberry, and Saskatoon serviceberry are the second and third choices, respectively.
- In the south of the United States and Mexico:
- Catclaw acacia, kidneywood, and granjeno are the most popular choices.
- Lotewood condalia, bluewood condalia, and lime prickly ash are the second and third choices, respectively.
- On the east coast of Canada:
- Beaked hazel, ground hemlock, and white cedar are the most popular choices.
- Serviceberry, maples, and yellow beech are the second and third choices, respectively.
What Plants Do Deer Eat in the Garden?
When it comes to deer-friendly garden plants, consider the following:
- Apples
- Beans
- Beets
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Carrot is a kind of vegetable (tops)
- Kohlrabi
- Lettuce and leafy greens are great additions to any meal (red lettuces are less palatable)
- Peas
- Pears
- Plums
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- corn on the cob
- Sweet potatoes are a kind of potato.
- Swiss Chard (Swiss Chard)
- Turnips
What Foods Do Deer Refuse to Eat?
Growing plants that deer don’t like is a fantastic place to start if your garden is the focus of deer grazing and you want to limit damage surrounding your property.
When natural food sources become scarce owing to prolonged drought or cold weather, deer will sample practically any food source available. However, certain garden plants are less appealing to these creatures than others.
Some plants, such as rhubarb, are poisonous to deer. Prickly vegetables (for example, Cucumbers and squashes with hairy leaves) and root vegetables, which require digging, are also avoided by deer.
Furthermore, plants with strong scents, such as onions, garlic, and fennel, are typically avoided by these ravenous herbivores.
Here’s a list of deer-resistant garden plants to give you more information:
- Asparagus
- Carrots are a root vegetable (root)
- Chives
- Cucumbers
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Artichokes (globe)
- Lavender
- Leeks
- Lemon balm is a herb that has been used for centuries
- Mint
- Onions
- Parsley
- Peppers
- Rhubarb
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Tomatoes
Although the following veggies and herbs are rather safe, they may be targeted if deer-favorite plants aren’t available. Plants that are sometimes injured include:
- Basil
- Bok Choy
- Brussels Sprouts (Broccoli)
- Chard
- Cilantro
- Corn
- Kale
- Melons
- Okra
- Potatoes are a kind of vegetable (may eat toxic leaves)
- Radish
- Rutabagas
- Squash in the Summer
- Squash in the Winter
Should You Help Feed Deer During the Winter?
Despite their compassion for wild deer during the difficult winter months, many individuals will do more damage than good by providing them with extra food. It’s possible that the harm is so severe that you’re killing deer without realizing it.
The following are some of the negative implications of improper winter feeding:
- Feeding deer in the late autumn might cause deer migration to natural wintering areas to be disrupted.
- Feeding deer lowers the extent and efficacy of route networks by concentrating animals in fewer territory.
- Concentrating deer in small areas may make them easy prey for predators, raise their chances of contracting illnesses like Chronic Wasting Disease, and eliminate any flora that the deer can access (anywhere between one to several hundred acres). The latter will have an impact on forest regeneration and limit the forest’s potential to supply future deer habitat.
- Inadequate winter food may also have long-term consequences for deer behavior, as they grow less frightened of humans.
- Deer will be more likely to be attacked and killed by free-roaming dogs if feeding stations are placed near residences.
- Feeding facilities that are improperly placed may significantly increase the incidence of deer-vehicle collisions.
- As previously stated, deer may starve to death if their tummies are full with indigestible substances when provided supplementary nutrients throughout the winter. Take, for instance, hay.
- Malnutrition may occur in generally healthy deer populations if supplementary nutrients are not provided in sufficient amounts.
- Deer may die from eating rotten or moldy food. Similarly, if a deer habituated to a fiber-rich diet is switched to a sugary one, it may die quickly.
- Deer may perish if they consume too much feed all at once.
- Deer that have been reliant on a feeding operation may suffer nutritional problems if it is stopped too soon. Starting a feeding operation too late has the same effect.
- A thorough, proper winter feeding operation is costly, and the typical householder is unlikely to carry it out.
How to Feed Deer Properly During the Winter
During the winter, the greatest thing you can do for wild deer in your region is to not feed them at all. However, if you do decide to do so, you must follow the following guidelines:
1. To reduce road-kill losses, deer feeding locations should be positioned in or near deer wintering grounds, at least half a mile from plowed roadways.
2. Distribute feed in numerous spots throughout the day to reduce deer rivalry.
3. Feeding should begin in late December or after 12 inches of snow has accumulated. Whichever appears first will very certainly indicate that the deer have made their way to their wintering grounds.
4. Natural browse plants such as maple, dogwood, birch, ash, or witch hobble may be used to offer sufficient nutrition. You may also provide oats, chestnuts, or acorns as dietary supplements.
Consider the following before introducing artificial feed:
- It might take up to three weeks for deer to acclimate to new meals.
- Beginning in early December, sugary foods must be introduced. If it’s later, the introduction must be done gently, else death might occur suddenly.
- Animal proteins and animal components should not be included in deer feed.
5. Feeding deer maize, hay, potatoes, kitchen leftovers, or cabbage/lettuce trimmings is not recommended.
6. Protect feed from dampness and store it above the ground to avoid deadly mold.
7. Once a feeding program has begun, do not interrupt or stop it. Feeding should be stopped just when spring greens appears.
Wrap Up
That concludes our comprehensive guide on the deer diet. What do deer consume, exactly?
Deer eat a variety of foods in the wild, including browse (leafy parts of plants like shrubs or young trees), forbs (herbaceous wide-leaved plants or weeds, such as agricultural crops), mast (acorns, nuts, seeds, and fruits), mushrooms/lichens, cereal grains (oats, wheat, and rye), and grass during the early stages of growth.
As for garden plants, a deer’s favorite feed includes apples, beans, beets, berries, broccoli, cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot is a kind of vegetable (tops), kohlrabi, lettuce and leafy greens, peas, pears, plums, spinach, Strawberries, corn on the cob, sweet, potatoes, Swiss Chard (Swiss Chard), as well as turnips.
The “what do deer need to survive” is a question that many people have been wondering about. Deer are herbivores, meaning they eat plants and other plant-based foods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do deers mainly eat?
A: Deers are herbivorous animals. They primarily eat plants, such as leaves and grasses.
What is the best thing to feed deer?
A: You can feed deer a number of things, but the best thing to feed them is corn.
What do you feed deer this time of year?
A: In the fall, deer can be fed a mixture of apple trees and grain.
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