There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. Many homeowners, gardeners, and farmers are concerned that their hard work can be undone by hungry deer. One common question is: do deer eat cranberries?
The answer is yes – deer will eat cranberries and their foliage right out of the bog. Deer love cranberries because they’re sweet, well-watered and provide them with essential vitamins and minerals.
Considering that a single deer can two to four barrels of cranberries in a single season, you can see how deer eating cranberries can really do some serious damage!
In this article, we’ll discuss how to stop deer from eating your cranberries and why they eat them in the first place.
Why Do Deer Eat Cranberries?
As we covered, deer will eat every part of cranberries (stem, leaves, blossoms, berries and all) when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Deer like lush plants that are well-watered and fertilized, and cranberries check every box.
They also have sweet berries and leaves which are very palatable to deer, and cranberries are easy on a deer’s digestive system.
The smell of cranberries is also very enticing to deer.
Deer can do some serious damage to a cranberry bog in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
Flowers like cranberries contain water, sugar, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer cranberries are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because the vines and foliage are more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like cranberries based on opportunity.
They’re usually planted in the ground, so they’re easy for deer to access.
If you’re not convinced, leave some cranberries out or try to grow some, and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Cranberries?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting cranberries 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 My Cranberries Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, the actual berries on cranberries can be harvested and will regrow, as will some light browsing of the leaves.
If deer happen to munch down your cranberries, continue regular care of your plants including watering and fertilizer as necessary until they’re back to good health.
Are Cranberries Good For Deer?
Yes, cranberries are very healthy for deer to eat.
Deer eating cranberries provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K1
For example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy and vitamin assists in deer immune system function.
Manganese assists deer in growth, respiration, and reproduction.
Vitamin E is a great fat-soluble antioxidant.
Vitamin K1 (aka phylloquinone) assists deer with blood clotting.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins in Cranberries 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 E content from deer eating cranberries can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins In Chufa For Deer
Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, folic acid, zinc, and potassium are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.
So a deer that eats cranberry plants for the vitamin C content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
Do Deer Eat Cranberries? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat cranberries?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat as many cranberries as they can, and they benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in these plants.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep them away like using fences, motion-activated devices, or reducing the enticing scent that your cranberries give off to ward off deer from eating 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:
- How long do deer live?
- Can deer eat orange peels?
- Do deer eat rutabaga?
- Do deer eat buckwheat?
- Do deer eat black walnuts?
- Do deer eat hickory nuts?
- Do deer eat Bermuda grass?
- Do deer eat corn on the cob?
- Do deer eat pumpkins?
- Do deer eat mums?
- Do deer eat roses?
- Do deer eat tomatoes?
- Do deer eat sunflowers?
- Do deer eat tulips?
- Do deer eat rhododendron?
- Do deer eat hibiscus?
- Will deer eat clematis?
- Do deer eat phlox?
- Do deer eat white pine?
META: Do deer eat cranberries? We answer if deer will eat cranberries and how to protect cranberries from deer in this guide.
