There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat pineapple?
Yes, deer love to eat pineapple. Deer love sweet and sugary foods, which is why they will gobble up pineapple any chance they get. While pineapples are not a major part of their diet, they provide vitamins which are critical to deer’s survival.
There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating pineapple which we’ll cover in today’s guide. Read on for more info.
Why Do Deer Eat Pineapple?
As we covered, deer will eat pineapples when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Well, for one, deer love the taste of pineapple.
Deer are attracted to sugary foods because of the energy it gives them, and pineapple certainly does the trick.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like pineapple based on opportunity.
They’re also more resistant against disease and insects, which deer prefer.
In fact, pineapple farmers in Hawaii have herds of Axis deer constantly mowing down their pineapples!
If you’re not convinced, leave some pineapple out for deer to eat and wait to see what happens.
Can Deer Eat Pineapple Rinds?
Deer have very strong jaws and teeth, designed to eat hard nuts and acorns, so yes, deer can eat pineapple rinds.
Are Pineapples Good For Deer?
So we’ve established that deer like to eat pineapple, but you may still be wondering: can deer eat pineapple?
Feeding deer pineapple provides them with carbohydrates for energy, digestible fiber, plus the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamins A, B6, E, and K
- Calcium
- Folate
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
- Zinc
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.
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.
Phosphorus also aids deer in body and antler growth.
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 pineapple 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 pineapple for the vitamin C or potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
How To Feed Pineapple To Deer
There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer pineapple: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding.
Make sure to place the pineapple on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.
If you’ve got a winter food plot with pineapple growing in it, the deer will eat them right out of the ground.
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 Pineapple For Deer To Eat?
If possible, cube pieces into 1″ or 2″ chunks to make it easier for the deer to eat pineapple.
Pineapples and pineapple rinds are high in fiber which can be tough on deer to digest in large quantities.
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 pineapple 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 pineapple 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 pineapple for deer to eat.
Consider The Amount Of Deer You’re Feeding
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 Pineapple? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat pineapple?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat pineapple if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in them.
They go crazy over the pineapple’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 pineapple 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:
- Can deer eat orange peels?
- Do deer eat corn on the cob?
- Do deer eat pumpkins?
- Do deer eat tomatoes?
- Do deer eat Morel mushrooms?
- Do deer eat squash?
- Do deer eat jalapeno plants?
- Do deer eat blackberries?
- Do deer eat sweet potatoes?
- Do deer eat carrots?
- Do deer eat strawberries?
- Do deer eat elderberry?
- Do deer eat mulberry trees?
- Do deer eat spicebush?
