I’m sure you have some potatoes in your garden, and you’re wondering: Do deer eat potatoes? I will clarify all your questions about potatoes and deer in this article. Growing potatoes is straightforward, but often you have to deal with certain pests and diseases.
Do Deer Eat Potatoes?
Do Deer Eat Potatoes? The answer to the question of do deer eat potatoes is a mixed. Potatoes are not the preferred food of deer, but if deer are hungry, they will eat potatoes. According to the University of Connecticut, potatoes are in the “Occasionally Damaged Plants” category.
There have been documented cases of deer entering potato crop fields and not damaging plants. That may happen because the deer had abundant food in their habitat and preferred to feed on other foods.
The deer preferred to eat beans, beets, and broccoli rather than potatoes. In short, deer eat potatoes if hungry due to a lack of food in their habitat. Fortunately, there are several ways to deter deer and protect your potatoes. I will explain these methods to protect your potatoes from deer in the following paragraphs.
Do Deer Eat Potatoes Plants?
What about potato plants? Potato leaves are toxic to deer, so they do not consume them. Solanine and chaconine, compounds found in all parts of the potato plant, including the leaves and flowers, serve as a natural defense mechanism against predators, safeguarding the plant.
However, when potatoes grow, or deer are hungry, potato plants may be partially damaged.
As mentioned in our article, “Do Deer Eat Pumpkins?” deer eat an average of 12 pounds (5.5 kg) of food per day. That is why if the deer are starving, they will eat everything in their path.
Deer are snooping animals and may also destroy potatoes with their footprints when inspecting what plants are in your garden. That is why it is essential to use methods to keep deer away from potatoes.
Will Potato Plants Regrow After Deer Eat?
Given favorable conditions, potato plants have the remarkable ability to regrow after being consumed by deer. When deer browse potato plants, they often target the leaves and stems. While severe damage can hinder regrowth, it can recover if the browsing is not extensive and the plant’s growing conditions are optimal.
After being browsed by deer, potato plants employ their energy reserves to initiate regrowth. The remaining healthy parts of the plant, such as the underground tubers, can provide the necessary resources for new growth. The plant will send out new shoots and leaves to replace the ones that were consumed.
Several factors can influence the regrowth potential of potato plants. Adequate access to sunlight, water, and nutrients is crucial for successful recovery. If the plant has a strong root system and favorable growing conditions, it can quickly regenerate new foliage.
However, it’s important to note that the extent of regrowth may depend on the severity of the browsing damage. If the plant has been severely damaged or repeatedly browsed, its ability to regrow may be limited. In such cases, the recovery process may be slower, and the plant may not fully regain its original vigor.
Protect Potatoes and Keep Deer Out
As I mentioned, potatoes are not the preferred food of deer, but they can cause damage to potato plants or eat parts of the plants. Here are different methods to keep deer away from potatoes without harming them or using chemicals that are bad for the environment.
Motion-Activated Sprinkler: Using a motion-activated water sprinkler is my favorite method of keeping deer away from potatoes. These devices are inexpensive and very easy to install in any garden. When the deer get close to the potato plants, they will start spraying water, and the deer will be scared away. This is an excellent method to keep deer away from potatoes and prevent them from damaging the potatoes. Here is a video showing how the motion-activated sprinklers work to get rid of deer from your potatoes.
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Repellents: Various commercial deer repellents are available that emit odors or tastes that deer find unpleasant. Apply these repellents around the perimeter of your potato plants. Be sure to follow the instructions on the product carefully. Alternatively, you can create your homemade repellents using ingredients like garlic or hot pepper.
Motion-Activated Ultrasonic: Install motion-activated ultrasonic devices near your potato plants. Deer are easily startled by sudden bright lights or loud noises, making them hesitant to approach the area. Some of these devices resemble deer predators or emit sounds that frighten deer.
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Electric Fencing: An alternative to traditional fencing is an electric fence. This type of fence delivers a mild electric shock to deter deer from entering your potato garden. Electric fences are effective but require careful installation and maintenance to ensure proper functioning.
Alternatively, you can install a fence to protect your potatoes. Still, these must be very tall and are more expensive and difficult to install than the methods mentioned above. I prefer to use motion-activated sprinklers or a natural repellent to keep deer away from potatoes. Any of the above techniques will prevent deer from eating the potatoes.
Final Conclusions
So, do deer eat potatoes? Deer typically eat potatoes as a food source when alternative food options become scarce. Potatoes, particularly their leaves and stems, contain toxins that can poison deer. Consuming a significant number of potatoes can result in severe consequences for deer, including potential fatality or enduring prolonged discomfort and pain.
I recommend taking precautions when growing potatoes to prevent deer from eating your potatoes plants. If you are interested in knowing more about what types of plants deer eat, I recommend you read our articles:
