There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat, especially when it comes to common flowers and plants. One common question is: do deer eat blackberries?
The answer is yes – deer love to eat blackberries throughout the year. Deer are attracted to blackberries because of their sweet taste.
Considering that a single deer can eat up to ten pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating blackberry bushes can really do some serious damage to these plants!
Why Do Deer Eat Blackberries?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of Blackberries (shoots, leaves, flowers, and stemsl) whenever they can.
You’d think that the thorns would deter them, but it really doesn’t!
Deer have been known to eat around the thorns, just focusing on the berries and leaves on mature blackberry bushes.
But why do they do this?
Deer like sweet foods and plants that are well-watered and fertilized, and blackberriess check every box.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of blackberry bushes in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Cornell University.
Plants like Blackberries contain water, sugar, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that newer blackberry bushes are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender and the thorns aren’t as hard.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like blackberries based on opportunity.
They’re planted in the ground and grow easily in many areas, so they’re easy for deer to access.
In fact, blackberry bushes are increasing in popularity for hunters who want a deer food plot but don’t have access to farming equipment.
This is because blackberries are relatively easy to grow and attract deer so well.
If you’re not convinced, leave some blackberries out or plant some, and wait to see what happens!
What Kinds Of Blackberries Do Deer Eat?
We’ll have homeowners ask: do deer eat bush blackberries or another specific type they have on their property.
The short answer is, yes, deer will eat all types of blackberries including erect thorny blackberries, erect thornless blackberries, and trailing thornless blackberries.
How Do You Keep Deer From Eating Blackberries?
Some farmers and hunters encourage deer to browse their blackberry bushes as part of food plots or other attractants.
If you’re in the other camp and want to protect your blackberries from deer, we’ve got some great options for you.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting KEYWORD from hungry deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant them.
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, so your main goal is making your garden as least inviting to deer as possible.
Check out our guide on how to keep deer from eating plants where we cover 25 quick and easy tips for keeping hungry deer out of your garden.
Will Blackberries Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, blackberries are perennials, meaning that their roots survive year after year.
However, the part of the plant that’s above the soil is biennial, meaning that they only bear fruit every other year.
So if a deer eats your blackberries this year, you won’t be able to harvest them again until two years from now!
Each alternating year the blackberry bush sprouts new canes to grow vegetation the first year, then fruit the next.
Are Blackberries Good For Deer?
Skunk cabbage contains highly digestible fiber and plenty of protein, so it attracts deer easily.
However, azaleas are typically used for arthritis and injury recovery, and it is believed that these benefits may translate to deer eating azaleas as well.
In addition to being a great source of protein, deer eating Blackberries provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- 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.
Deer need calcium for bone, teeth, and antler growth and health as well as other bodily functions like milk production and metabolism.
Manganese assists deer in growth, respiration, and reproduction.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Blackberries 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 calcium content from deer eating blackberries can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins In Blackberries 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 blackberries for the vitamin C content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
Do Deer Eat Blackberries? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat Blackberries?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat Blackberries whenever they can, especially when the plants are young because the thorns are less hard.
Once a blackberry bush is mature, deer will still eat the berries and leaves from them ravenously.
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: