Do Deer Eat Bananas?

There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat bananas?

Yes, deer love to eat bananas. Deer love sweet and sugary foods, which is why they will gobble up bananas when offered.  While bananas are not a regular part of their diet, they provide vitamins which are critical to deer’s survival. 

There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating bananas which we’ll cover in today’s guide.  Read on for more info.

Why Do Deer Eat Bananas?

deer eating banana

As we covered, deer will eat bananas when they’ve got the chance.

But why do they do this?

Well, for one, deer love the taste of bananas.

Deer are attracted to sugary foods because of the energy it gives them, and bananas certainly do the trick.

Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like bananas based on opportunity.

They’re also more resistant against disease and insects, which deer prefer.

Watch this deer come right up and eat a banana out of someone’s hand:

If you’re not convinced, leave some bananas out for deer to eat and wait to see what happens.

Should I Feed Bananas To Deer?

Feeding deer foods like bananas occasionally is fine, as it is viewed as a rare treat and the deer will really enjoy it!

Feeding wild deer bananas regularly poses a few problems, however.

Here’s why you shouldn’t feed bananas to deer.

Deer Need To Rely On Nature For Food

If you feed deer continuously, they may start relying on that food source, which will cause them to stop foraging in nature for foods that they need to survive.

Natural Foods Are Naturally Better For Deer

Feeding deer foods like bananas can alter their diet significantly, depending on what you’re feeding them, increasing the chance of malnourishment.

Deer Should Have A Healthy Fear Of Humans

Second, it reduces a deer’s natural fear of humans, which can shorten their lifespan or put them in danger.

You May Attract Other (Unwanted) Wildlife

Putting extra food out for deer can also attract predators like coyotes, wolves, or mountain lions to the area, which put the deer (and potentially you) at risk.

You Can Increase The Transmission Of Diseases

If you have lots of deer in your area, think twice about putting out food continuously for them.

If you bring deer together at the same feeding site, it can increase their risk of contracting chronic wasting disease or other communicable diseases from each other.

Can Deer Eat Banana Peels?

can deer eat banana peels

Deer have very strong jaws and teeth, designed to eat hard nuts and acorns, and the peels of bananas are quite soft.

So yes, deer can eat banana peels.

Even though a deer can eat banana peels, it doesn’t mean they should.

A banana peel has hardly any nutrition and will be harder for deer to digest than many other foods, making it “wasted space” in their stomach.

That banana peel could’ve been replaced with a healthier food, and you don’t want to cause deer to become malnourished, so we advise against feeding banana peels to deer.

Are Bananas Good For Deer?

can deer eat bananas

So we’ve established that deer like to eat bananas, but you may still be wondering: can deer eat bananas?

Feeding deer bananas provides them with carbohydrates for energy, digestible fiber, plus the following vitamins and minerals:

  • Vitamin B6
  • Vitamin C
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Manganese

These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.

For example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy and vitamin assists in deer immune system function.

Potassium is great for deer because it helps maintain good pH balance and aid in proper digestion.

Magnesium is great for antler growth, increasing body weight, and has immune system benefits for deer.

A 2007 study showed that zinc can assist in growing larger antler sizes in white-tailed deer.

Manganese assists deer in growth, respiration, and reproduction.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins For Deer

Vitamins A, D, E, K, and calcium are fat-soluble, so they can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed.

This means that vitamin A content from deer eating bananas can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.

Water-Soluble Vitamins For Deer

Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, folic acid, and potassium are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.

So a deer that eats bananas for the vitamin C or potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.

How To Feed Bananas To Deer

do deer like bananas

There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer bananas: the size of the portion and making sure not to leave your scent on the food.

Make sure to place the bananas on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.

If deer are not normally around your area in winter, don’t feed them leading up to winter as they will not migrate where and when they should.

This will lead to the deer relying on you as their food source and can result in starvation.

Should I Cut Up Bananas For Deer To Eat?

Bananas are naturally soft, so you don’t need to bother with cutting them up when feeding deer.

Just place bananas on the ground whole and with the peel removed so deer can eat them.

Don’t Leave Your Scent On Deer Food

Deer have a keen sense of smell that allows them to smell human scent farther than bloodhounds can, and can smell up to six different scents at once.

Deer won’t eat food like bananas if they have a strong human scent on them, so you should take care to minimize your trace.

You can do this by rinsing the bananas and also washing your hands with antimicrobial soap.

Alternatively, you can put a few drops of apple cider vinegar on your hands when handling food you’ll be giving to the deer.

Another easy option is to use gloves when handling bananas for deer to eat.

Can Deer Eat Bananas? Wrapping Things Up

So, do deer eat bananas?

The answer is yes!

Deer will eat bananas if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in them.

They go crazy over the bananas’s sweet taste and will eat the entire fruit and rind.

Just be sure to take care with your scent, the size of the portion, and how many deer you’re feeding when placing bananas out for them.

Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.

Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here:

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