There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat kiwi?
Yes, deer love to eat kiwi. Deer love sweet and sugary foods, which is why they will gobble up kiwi any chance they can. While kiwis are not a major part of their diet, they provide vitamins and nutrients which are critical to a deer’s survival.
There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating kiwis which we’ll cover in today’s guide. Read on for more info.
Why Do Deer Eat Kiwi?
As we covered, deer will eat kiwis when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Well, for one, deer love the taste of kiwi.
Deer are attracted to sugary foods because of the energy it gives them, and kiwi certainly does the trick.
Although deer are usually turned off by hairy plants and foods, the fuzzy exteriors of kiwis don’t repel deer.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like kiwi based on opportunity.
They’re also more resistant against disease and insects, which deer prefer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some kiwi out for deer to eat and wait to see what happens.
Will Deer Eat Kiwi Vines?
Deer have a strong preference for any kind of tender, green growth, so they really love eating kiwi vines.
Because kiwi vines grow upward, you can position the kiwi vine to grow up a trellis or a garden post to a spot that is out of reach for deer.
In addition, you can implement one of the deer protection methods that we outline later in this guide.
Do Deer Eat Hardy Kiwi?
Yes, deer love all kinds of kiwi, but hardy kiwi are even more attractive to deer than regular kiwi.
This is because hardy kiwi has a smooth, non-fuzzy skin and are even sweeter than regular kiwi, which deer eat like candy.
Deer will eat hardy kiwi just like grapes off the vine… and then they’ll eat the vine, too!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Kiwi Vines?
Most folks investigating whether deer eat kiwis are trying to find ways to attract them.
If you’re in the other camp and want to protect your kiwis and kiwi vines from deer, we’ve got some great options for you.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting kiwis 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 Kiwis Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
So a hungry deer snuck in your garden and had a feast on your kiwis. Will they grow back?
Kiwi roots can usually regenerate from the root system or the bark at ground level.
I’ve seen kiwis grow back from just a 1” nub sticking out of the ground, and they bounced back healthier than ever.
Continue to care for your kiwis including water and fertilizing until they’re back to good health.
If your kiwis don’t come back after the next growing season, you’ll need to remove them and start new plants.
Are Kiwis Good For Deer?
So we’ve established that deer like to eat kiwi, but you may still be wondering: can deer eat kiwi?
Feeding deer kiwi provides them with carbohydrates for energy, digestible fiber, plus the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- Calcium
- Folate
- Potassium
- Magnesium
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.
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 kiwi 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 kiwi for the vitamin C or potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
How To Feed Kiwi To Deer
There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer kiwi: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding.
Make sure to place the kiwi on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.
If you’ve got a winter food plot with kiwi 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 Kiwi For Deer To Eat?
Kiwi fruit is soft and small, so there’s no need to cut kiwis when feeding them to deer.
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 kiwi 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 kiwi 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 kiwi 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 Kiwi? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat kiwi?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat kiwi if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in them.
They go crazy over the kiwi’s sweet taste and will eat the entire fruit and vines.
If you’re looking to protect your kiwi vines from being eaten by deer, make sure to use the prevention methods we outlined earlier in this guide.
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: