Deer are adaptable herbivores that seek various food sources across their habitats. They are notably attracted to fruits, an energy-rich component of their diet. This preference for sweet, palatable options helps them meet their metabolic needs throughout the year.
Preferred Fruit Varieties
Deer consume a wide array of fruits, both wild and cultivated, with several types particularly favored. Pears, apples, and persimmons frequently rank among their top choices, often drawing deer from considerable distances. Plums are also readily eaten, providing a sweet treat during their ripening season.
Berries are another highly palatable option for deer, including blackberries, strawberries, mulberries, and blueberries. These small fruits are easy for deer to access from bushes, making them convenient foraging choices. Grapes are also a popular food source, primarily due to their high sugar content.
Apples are particularly appealing to deer because they are sweet, crunchy, and generally easy to digest. Deer often prefer sweeter apple varieties, and smaller apples or crabapples are especially easy for them to consume.
Persimmons, often described as “candy” for deer, are consumed once ripe and drop from trees from September through winter. Pears, including varieties like Bartlett and Kieffer, are appreciated for their sweet and often crunchy texture. Mulberries offer a rich food source in late spring and early summer.
The Nutritional Appeal of Fruits
Fruits offer several nutritional advantages that make them highly desirable to deer. Their high sugar content provides a rapid source of energy, particularly beneficial for evading predators, enduring cold weather, and fueling the demanding rutting season. This sweetness also contributes to their palatability, encouraging deer to actively seek out fruiting plants.
The carbohydrates found in fruits are important for a deer’s overall health and provide sustained energy. Fruits also contain significant water content, which aids in hydration, especially when other water sources are scarce. Furthermore, fruits supply various vitamins (A, C, K) and minerals, supporting immune function and overall well-being.
Plums, for example, contain proteins that can contribute to antler, muscle, and bone development. These nutritional components help deer build fat and energy reserves in the fall, which are important for surviving the lean winter months. The high digestibility of many fruits also allows deer to efficiently extract these nutrients.
Fruit’s Place in a Deer’s Diet
While fruits are highly preferred, they typically constitute only a seasonal portion of a deer’s varied diet. Deer are opportunistic feeders, and their dietary habits adapt to the availability of food sources throughout the year. Their primary diet largely consists of browse (leafy parts of woody plants) and forbs (herbaceous broad-leaved plants).
Fruits, along with nuts (collectively known as soft and hard mast), see increased consumption during the autumn months as they become available. This seasonal abundance of high-energy fruits can significantly influence deer movement and behavior, as they frequent areas where fruit is dropping. However, woody browse remains a more consistent and suitable food item for deer’s digestive systems over the long term.
Despite their appeal, fruits are not a deer’s sole or primary food source; over-reliance can potentially lead to health issues. Deer are designed to derive most of their nutrition from a diverse range of vegetation, with fruits serving as an important but temporary supplement. This ensures they obtain a balanced intake of nutrients necessary for their health.