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Do Deer Eat Cherries? (Quick Answers)

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When was the last time you saw a deer eating a cherry? Several myths are out there, some of which may be true. However, it’s an important part of deer behavior in the summer. They are called “cherry deer” because they eat various fruits and vegetables. 

Are you concerned about deer if you have any cherry gardens? Here’s everything you need to know.

Do deer eat cherries?

Deer consume cherries during the summer. They are particularly drawn to cherry trees because of the delicious fruit they produce. Deer are specialized herbivores by nature and will consume available food sources. This includes various plants, leaves, vines and fruits. 

However, not all deer are adept at foraging. So, if you have a well-hidden cherry tree in your yard that has a high chance of disappearing, it is up to the rest of you not to eat it.

Cherries:

Cherries are a favorite summer fruit of deer, especially during the summer months. They will eat them directly from the tree or eat them while browsing through your garden in search of other tasty treats to snack on.

Cherry trees:

Deer are drawn to your cherry tree, or they will come across it while browsing through your garden searching for food. If you have cherry trees in your yard, keep an eye on them during the summer months to avoid damage.

Cherry tree leaves:

Cherry leaves are not only enjoyed by deer but also by a variety of other animals. Other animals, such as squirrels, take pleasure in them as well. However, you should not anticipate seeing a deer in the vicinity of your trees any time soon. 

Deer are typically nocturnal, which means that they spend most of their time sleeping rather than being active.

Flowering cherry trees:

Cherry blossoms may be attractive to deer, but they will not eat the flowers if they see them. Only the fruit will pique their interest. However, they will eat the tree even though the flowers are still there.

Are cherry trees deer resistant?

Some cherry trees are thought to be deer resistant because they are not as easily spotted by the animals or produce smaller fruit that is less likely to tempt a deer. Furthermore, deer dislike the flavor of cherries. Suppose you have previously planted a cherry tree. 

In that case, you can keep deer out by clearing a section of your yard and planting something like black locusts or holly over that area.

Cherry blossom trees:

Deer prefer cherry blossom trees in the spring because of the abundance of blooms. During the bloom season, keep an eye on cherry blossom trees and remove any fruit that may be appealing to deer. 

Furthermore, deer dislike the taste of cherry blossom from this tree, so a deer will most likely exercise its choice and move on.

Pink weeping cherry trees:

Pink weeping cherry trees are less visible to deer, making them an excellent choice for protecting your trees from animal damage. However, keep an eye out for deer and pick up any leaves or fruit they may consume. 

Deer can also be seen flying overhead shortly before the pink blossoms bloom, and these deer prefer white cherry trees for their raw meat.

Purple leaf sand cherry trees:

Purple leaf sand cherry trees are resistant to deer because their fruit is small and difficult to reach. Furthermore, their leaves and flowers are unappealing to animals. Therefore, keep an eye out for deer during the bloom and remove any leaves or fruit they may eat. 

Furthermore, deer dislike the sweet flavor of the purple leaf or any other sand cherry.

Yoshino cherry trees:

Yoshino cherry trees are a good choice for keeping deer away because they produce a lot of blooms. However, it is critical to keep an eye out for them all year and remove any leaves or fruit that they may consume. 

Yoshino cherry trees are also a good option for those who can’t keep them from being damaged by deer in the spring. Avoid planting this tree near large bodies of water (rivers/lakes). 

It can get damaged when planted too close to flooding areas, just like pink, white, and purple blossom cherry trees.

Autumn cherry trees:

Autumn cherry trees are less vulnerable to deer damage because their leaves and fruit turn vibrant colors in the fall. However, it is still necessary to keep an eye out for deer and remove any leaves or fruit they may consume. 

Furthermore, keep in mind that the leaves on this tree are not particularly fragrant and are easily eaten by deer.

Kwanzan cherry trees:

For those who want to keep deer away from their gardens, Kwanzan cherry trees are a good choice because they produce many blooms. Maintaining a vigilant eye out for them throughout the year and removing any leaves or fruit that they may consume is essential. 

Additionally, keep in mind that the leaves of this tree are not particularly fragrant and deer are known to consume them readily.

Black cherry trees:

Black cherry trees are not as susceptible to deer damage because their leaves and fruit turn Colorful during the fall. However, it is still important to keep an eye out for deer and remove any leaves or fruit that they may eat. 

Additionally, Black cherry trees are a good choice for those who want to keep deer away because they produce large amounts of blooms.

Do deer like cherry trees?

Cherry trees have a wide range of colors and shapes. It is also possible that deer will be unable to access the cherry trees because of fencing or other obstructions in their path. But they tend to like the cherry trees if they have a chance to consume them. 

It is important to remember that deer are herbivores, which means their primary diet consists of plants. Therefore, it is possible that cherry trees do not constitute a significant portion of their diet.

Consider landscaping your cherry trees to make them more accessible to deer if you are concerned about the health of your trees. This could include landscaping the area around the tree with shrubs and trees and reducing the visibility of the tree itself.

Do deer eat cherries with pits?

Deer will not eat cherries that have pits in them. This is because the pits often contain a higher concentration of sugar than the rest of the plant, making them an appealing food source for deer. 

However, it is important to remember that cherry trees thrive in areas where You can find deer in significant numbers.

In most cases, deer will not eat the cherries directly from the tree unless they become excessively hungry or unless there are no other food sources available. 

These predators will only go after and attempt to consume those who have fallen on their own or who have problems such as hail damage, amongst other things.

How to keep deer away from cherry trees?

Cherry trees are a favorite food of deer. So if you have a cherry garden, you will need to take precautions to keep it safe. Here’s what you can do to keep deer away from your property.

Build a metal fence around your cherry tree:

To begin, construct a metal fence around the base of your cherry tree. The fence should be high enough to prevent deer from jumping over it but not so high that they cannot get under it. Ascertain that the fence is securely bolted to the ground.

Plant decorative trees and shrubs:

Plant ornamental trees and shrubs near the cherry tree to provide cover for the fruit and deter deer. Each ornamental tree and shrub, however, has unique requirements.

Install a Wildlife Repelled application:

If you don’t want to fence or plant flowers, consider putting up a wildlife repellent. A wildlife repellent emits an odor that deer find unpleasant, and you should place it near the cherry tree to keep the animals at bay.

Install a bird feeder:

Fill a bird feeder with fresh foods and place it near the cherry tree. This will feed birds, which will warn deer away from the fruit trees.

Plant a cherry pie tree:

Cherry Pie Trees are especially deer-repellent if you can find them. Because the fruit on these trees is deep red and orange and smells delicious to animals, they are unlikely to eat any of your cherries.

Clean up possible food:

Clean up food. Remove any discarded food near the cherry tree. This will help to keep deer away from your fruit trees.

Plant a cherry blossom tree:

If everything else fails, consider planting a Cherry Blossom Tree. These trees bloom in late winter/early spring, and their pink petals keep deer away from the fruit trees.

Final thoughts

Cherries are a favorite of deer, but they are primarily attracted to the sugar content of the fruit. If a deer eats cherry, you can dispose of it humanely by covering it with soil or compost. In addition, keeping your cherry trees well-maintained and clean will deter them from stealing your crops.

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