Deer can eat almonds, but it’s not recommended due to health risks. Though deer are opportunistic and might eat fallen almonds, these nuts aren’t a natural or ideal part of their diet. Understanding the dangers and their natural diet is important for managing deer around almond trees.
Are Almonds Safe for Deer?
Raw almonds, especially bitter varieties, contain amygdalin, which converts to hydrogen cyanide when ingested. Sweet almonds also contain this compound, posing a risk if consumed in large quantities. Even small amounts can be toxic to humans, and for deer, consuming a significant volume, this toxicity is a serious concern.
Whole, unprocessed almonds also pose a choking hazard. Deer lack upper incisor teeth, making it difficult to chew hard items, leading to issues if they swallow whole almonds. Processed almonds (salted, flavored, chocolate-covered) are unsafe due to incompatible added ingredients.
Do Deer Typically Eat Almonds?
Almonds are not a natural food source for deer. Deer are ruminants, adapted to digest high-fiber plant material like browse, forbs, and mast. Their natural diet primarily consists of leafy woody plants, herbaceous broad-leaved plants, and seeds like acorns, comprising over 85% of their diet.
Deer are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide variety of foods, especially when natural options are scarce. They might eat fallen almonds if easily accessible or food is limited, particularly in late winter and early spring, but this is not a regular part of their diet. Some sources suggest deer seek out almonds, even on trees. However, their primary sustenance comes from natural forage.
Nutritional Considerations and Potential Risks
Deer have a specialized digestive system, including a four-compartment stomach, relying on microbes to break down fibrous plant material. While almonds contain fats and proteins, their composition is not ideal for a deer’s rumen, especially in large quantities. A sudden intake of high-carbohydrate, low-fiber foods like nuts can disrupt this microbial balance.
This disruption can lead to rumen acidosis. In acidosis, rapid carbohydrate fermentation produces lactic acid, lowering the rumen’s pH and causing severe digestive upset, dehydration, or even death. It can also cause lasting damage to the rumen lining, impairing future digestion. Intentional feeding of human foods like almonds is discouraged.
Managing Deer Around Almond Trees
Protecting almond trees from deer involves physical barriers or deterrents. Fencing is effective, from individual tree cages to eight-foot perimeter fences. Wire cylinders or mesh fencing around young trees also provides protection. Properly installed electric fencing can deter deer but requires consistent monitoring.
Repellents, like commercial sprays or homemade mixtures, use strong scents deer dislike. Motion-activated sprinklers or noise deterrents can be used, but deer adapt over time. Avoid intentionally feeding deer human food, including almonds, as this leads to dependency, altered foraging, and increased disease risk from unnatural congregations. Encouraging natural food sources away from cultivated areas is a more beneficial long-term strategy.