Browsing damage from deer is a frustrating conflict between wildlife and cultivated spaces. Gardeners often ask if deer consume specific plants, particularly peas, while trying to protect their harvests. Deer populations, especially in suburban and rural areas, constantly seek fresh, palatable forage. Peas are a highly attractive food source for these animals, leading to significant pressure on home gardens and agricultural plots.
The Deer’s Preference for Peas
Deer seek out pea plants due to their exceptional nutritional content and high palatability. As legumes, peas are naturally rich in protein, often exceeding 25% crude protein in their vegetative stages. This high-protein diet is particularly desirable during the spring and summer months to support antler growth in bucks and lactation in does.
Browsing deer target the entire pea plant, including the leaves, tender stems, flowers, and developing pods. The lush foliage is readily consumed upon sprouting, sometimes right after the young vines emerge. Later in the season, the pods provide a valuable source of carbohydrates and energy, helping deer build fat reserves before winter. Garden peas, bred for sweetness and yield, are a preferred target over less nutritious wild forages.
Identifying and Assessing Deer Damage
Recognizing deer damage is crucial for implementing the correct protection strategy, as other pests can cause similar losses. Deer lack upper incisors, so they cannot make a clean cut when eating foliage. Instead, they grasp and tear the plant material, resulting in a characteristic torn, jagged, or shredded appearance on the remaining stems and leaves.
This ragged browsing damage differentiates it from the clean, angled cuts left by smaller animals like rabbits or rodents. Deer browsing typically occurs at a height ranging from the ground up to about six feet, ruling out damage caused by pests closer to the soil. Indirect evidence, such as hoof prints in the soft soil or the trampling of plants, also indicates their presence. Assessing the height and the ragged tear marks confirms deer are the culprits and dictates the necessary protective measures.
Strategies for Garden Protection
The most reliable way to prevent deer from consuming pea plants is by installing a physical barrier that restricts access. A fence must be at least eight feet tall, as deer are capable jumpers. For smaller pea patches, temporary individual cages or netting can protect the plants during vulnerable growth stages.
Repellents offer a secondary line of defense. Those that emit a strong odor, such as products containing putrescent egg solids or sulfur, are more effective than taste-based repellents alone. These products must be applied consistently, especially after rainfall or as new growth emerges, to maintain effectiveness.
Because deer are highly adaptable, changing the type of repellent used periodically prevents them from becoming accustomed to a single smell or taste. Strategic planting can also help, such as using strongly aromatic herbs as a border around the pea plants, since deer tend to avoid these smells. For highly desired crops like peas, a combination of physical barriers and repellent rotation offers the strongest chance of a successful harvest.