There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat orange peels?
Yes, deer love to eat orange peels. While orange peels are not a major part of their diet, they provide vitamins which are critical to a deer’s survival.
So, next time you have an orange, don’t toss the peel – give it to your local deer instead!
There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating orange peels which we’ll cover in today’s guide. Read on for more info.
Why Do Deer Eat Orange Peels?
As we covered, deer will eat an entire orange including the peel when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Well, for one, deer love the taste of oranges, and unlike humans, they’re not picky about the peel – in fact, orange peels have a bittersweet taste that appeals to deer.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods based on opportunity – although they can’t reach oranges on the branch, they will absolutely eat them if and when they fall on the ground.
It is a myth that oranges and other citrus are deer repellent, but these claims are widely unsubstantiated.
If you’re not convinced, leave some orange peels out for deer to eat and wait to see what happens!
It’s more likely that deer living in zones where oranges grow naturally will be more inclined to eat orange peels, such as areas like Florida or California.
That doesn’t mean that deer in other parts of the country won’t eat orange peels, though!
Are Orange Peels Good For Deer?
Feeding deer orange peels provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Calcium
- Folate
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
- Thiamine (vitamin B1)
These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.
For example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy and vitamin A will help prevent deer night blindness.
Deer need calcium for bone, teeth, and antler growth and health as well as other bodily functions like milk production and metabolism.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins For Deer
Vitamins A, D, E, and K 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 orange peels can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins For Deer
Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, and folic acid are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.
So a deer that eats orange peels for the vitamin C content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
How To Feed Deer Orange Peels
There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer orange peels: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding.
Make sure to place the orange peels on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.
Also, 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 Orange Peels For Deer To Eat?
If possible, tear or cut pieces into 1″ or 2″ chunks to make it easier for the deer to eat orange peels.
Orange peels contain lots of 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 orange peels 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 orange peels 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 orange peels 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.
Feeding Deer Orange Peels? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat orange peels?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat orange peels if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in these peels.
Just be sure to take care with your scent, the size of the portion, and how many deer you’re feeding when placing orange peels out for them.
So next time you’re chewing an orange, don’t forget to save the peel for those hungry deer!
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:
