Deer constantly seek calorie-dense and easily digestible food sources. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds (BOSS), commonly used for backyard bird feeding, are a highly concentrated energy package often found in their foraging range. While popular for attracting birds, their presence raises the question of whether they also attract larger wildlife. Understanding a deer’s preference involves examining both the palatability and the nutritional components that appeal to their biological needs.
Deer Palatability and Consumption of BOSS
Deer exhibit a strong preference for Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, actively seeking them out when available. BOSS are more appealing than the larger, striped variety because their thinner hulls and larger nutmeat make them easier to consume and digest quickly. This ease of consumption makes them a desirable food item, often preferred over natural forage, especially when resources are scarce.
White-tailed deer frequently invade bird feeders, demonstrating the high palatability of BOSS. They will consume seeds directly from feeders or linger to eat spilled seeds on the ground. This opportunistic feeding behavior is common, with some reports noting that a forty-pound bag of seeds on the ground can be consumed by a deer population in as little as two days once they become habituated to the food source. The preference for the solid black seed is due to the specific draw of the high oil content found in BOSS.
Nutritional Value and Seasonal Importance
The primary reason BOSS are attractive is their dense nutritional profile, offering a substantial energy boost compared to typical browse. They are notable for high fat (around 25.0% crude fat) and protein (around 15.0% crude protein) content. This elevated fat provides concentrated calories, supporting a deer’s energy requirements, especially during stressful periods. The thin hull also provides fiber and micronutrients like Vitamin E and biotin.
However, the high-energy content introduces a significant risk. Deer are ruminant animals with a digestive system adapted to high-fiber, low-sugar forage. Introducing large amounts of high-oil food like BOSS disrupts this delicate digestive balance, potentially leading to severe health complications. A sudden influx of these seeds can cause ruminal acidosis, a dangerous change in the stomach’s pH levels caused by undigested food.
Therefore, BOSS should not be the sole or primary food source, even though they are sought after during periods of stress, such as harsh winters or pre- and post-rut periods. While BOSS can be used as a fortifier when mixed with other deer feeds, large quantities are detrimental, especially given the deer’s natural low-carb diet.
Managing Deer Interaction with Seed Sources
For homeowners aiming to protect bird feeders, several practical strategies can minimize deer consumption of Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. These methods focus on preventing access to the feeder itself and eliminating the easy meal found on the ground beneath it.
- Place feeders at a height deer cannot reach, typically six to eight feet off the ground, as deer can rear up on their hind legs.
- Install feeders away from platforms, ledges, or railings that deer could use to gain easy access.
- Eliminate the easy meal found on the ground beneath the feeder by cleaning up fallen seeds daily or installing a seed-catching tray.
- Switch to birdseed types that are less attractive to deer, such as thistle or plain suet.
- Use physical barriers like woven-wire fencing to keep deer out of the feeding area.
- Employ motion-activated sprinklers that use a harmless spray of water to startle the animals away.