The World of Deer

Yes — deer eat zucchini, though the plant fights back a little. The big leaves and stems are covered in stiff, prickly hairs that deer dislike, so casual browsers often pass a zucchini patch by.

Most deer drink free-standing water regularly, often daily when it’s convenient, but deer are far less tied to waterholes than most people assume, because a large share of their water comes from the plants they

Yes — deer eat vegetable gardens, and given the chance they’ll eat most of what’s in yours. A vegetable plot is the richest concentration of tender, well-watered, fertilized food a deer will find anywhere in

Mostly no — deer generally avoid succulents, but “generally” is doing real work in that sentence. Waxy coatings, bitter or astringent sap, and odd textures keep most succulents low on the deer menu, and many

Deer are herbivores, and plants make up essentially all of their diet, but the surprising truth is that deer do occasionally eat meat. Deer have been documented eating bird eggs, nestlings and fledglings, fish, carrion,

Deer protect their fawns mainly by hiding them rather than guarding them. A doe conceals her newborn in dense cover, stays away most of the day so her own scent and bulk do not betray