What Types of Foods Do Deer Eat?
Quick Answer
Deer are herbivores, which means that they primarily eat plants, ivy and grass. Many deer, especially whitetail deer, eat acorns that fall from trees, as well as hickory nuts, beechnuts and pecans.
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Full Answer
When available, deer also enjoy eating fruit, such as apples and persimmons. These types of food aren't readily available for deer to consume, however, so they don't make up a large part of a deer's diet.
Deer often travel towards areas where food is plentiful, such as forests and meadows. In areas such as these, they have a larger access to dandelions and wild roses. When food becomes scarce in the winter, deer adapt to the weather by migrating towards more survivable areas and fattening up throughout autumn to prepare for the shortage. Deer also depend on fallen leaves and twigs to survive during the rougher seasons. Even when the food supply is very low, they can typically survive for a few weeks based on their stored fat and lowered metabolism.
Farmers and gardeners typically aren't fond of deer, as they pose a threat to newly grown crops. Deer are known to scavenge for beans, potatoes, soybeans, wheat, sweet potatoes and rye, and usually steal crops from the edge of a farmer's plot, so that they can escape quickly if they sense that they've been spotted.
Learn more about DeerRelated Questions
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Q:
What Foods Do White-Tailed Deer Prefer?
A: A white-tailed deer's diet varies depending on the season, but the deer typically eat grass, legumes, twigs, leaves and alfalfa. A white-tailed deer living... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Kind of Plants and Veggies Do Deer Like to Eat?
A: Deer eat twigs, branches, leaves, fruits, grass, nuts, alfalfa and fungi, depending on the availability and the season. During the spring, deer prefer swee... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Are Some Plants That Deer Won't Eat?
A: Deer typically dislike plants that taste bitter, have a strong scent or have leaves with a texture that is sticky, prickly or fuzzy. Using these plants in ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Do You Feed Wild Deer?
A: Wild deer are herbivores, which means they eat mostly plant-based substances. Fruits, nuts, plants and grasses are most common in a wild deer's diet. Wild ... Full Answer >Filed Under:
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