Do deer eat watermelon? 10 Proven Tips to Stop Them Fast
You just found your watermelon ruined! Holes torn in the green rind, sticky red juice everywhere… and hoof prints in the dirt nearby. Do deer eat watermelon? The messy evidence shouts YES!
Those gentle-looking visitors actually love chomping into sweet melons, tearing open the fruit to feast on the juicy insides.
Good news: You can protect your garden. We’ll show you how to keep deer away from your watermelons!
Do deer eat watermelon rinds?
You might wonder if deer just nibble on watermelon slices or if they’ll tackle a whole one, rinds and all. Here’s the scoop! While deer love the juicy, sweet flesh inside, the tough outer shell (the rind) isn’t their first choice.
They find it hard to crunch through easily and don’t like chewing it much. So, they often bother with the rind only if they can’t find easier fruit or open pieces.
But if a hungry deer finds a whole melon, they won’t just walk away! They might use their sharp hooves to stomp on it, trying to puncture or crack it open to reach the good stuff inside.
This way, they can handle the big, compact fruit and break it into smaller pieces. However, attacking whole melons like this can be problematic, especially for farmers.
A deer in the patch can cause significant damage. They might smash several melons trying to get one open, ruin the harvest, and leave behind a mess that can attract unwanted pests.
This all adds up to a real loss of valuable crops. So yes, while they prefer the flesh, deer will go after whole watermelons if they’re hungry enough!”
Is Eating Watermelon Good for Deer?
Watermelon is a nutrient-dense fruit, packed with things that are essential for health, not just for humans but also for animals like deer. It offers beneficial vitamins and minerals. For example:
Think of watermelon like a cucumber – it’s a fantastic source of hydration because it’s 92% water, according to watermelon.org. This makes it a great snack, especially for deer living in hot, dry environments where finding water can be hard.
Just like they thrive by consuming a variety of foods like fruits (think apples and bananas) and vegetables (like carrots and sweet potatoes), watermelon can be a safe and beneficial occasional treat.
However, it should only be offered in moderation as part of their overall diet; too much fruit isn’t natural, so owners should adjust how much they give.
Is It Okay to Feed Watermelon to Deer?
While deer naturally enjoy the sweet, juicy taste of watermelon, you might be tempted to leave out slices or scraps just to treat your gentle woodland visitors.
But before you start offering your extra melons, it’s important to ask — should we feed watermelon to deer on purpose?
The short answer is: not usually. Here’s why:
The Risks of Feeding Deer Watermelon (or Any Human Food)
If you feed a deer anything, even something natural like watermelon, it can cause a lot of problems for them.
- Disrupts natural foraging behavior
- Can attract too many deer
- Increases the risk of accidents
- Improper diet over time
Will Deer Eat Whole Watermelon Plants?
Yes, deer definitely eat parts of watermelon plants and love the fruit! They most commonly nibble on the tender leaves and vines, especially young ones.
When the big, ripe melon appears, deer really chow down on it. They often puncture the tough outer rind to get at the sweet, juicy fruit inside.
While they don’t usually eat the entire plant (roots, thick stems, and the hard rind are often left behind), technically they feed on almost everything else – leaves, vines, flowers, and the delicious inside of the watermelons.
This munching can ruin your harvest and badly damage your patch. Sadly, a damaged watermelon left in the field can also attract unwanted pests.
Will a Watermelon Plant Recover if Eaten by Deer?
Okay, so deer find those tasty watermelon plants pretty tempting, especially the fresh, young shoots!
If a deer has consumed parts of your plant, whether it can recover really depends on its age and how much of the damage has happened. Watermelon plants are surprisingly resilient, but the stage when they get eaten matters a lot.
Early in their development, being munched on can have a really detrimental effect. It can badly hurt their growth, even stopping it completely or leaving the plant stunted. Think of a tiny seedling losing its only leaves – it struggles terribly.
However, more mature plants are tougher. They have bigger roots and more leaves stored up. If only parts are eaten, especially if the main growing tip survives, a mature plant can often withstand the damage.
It might look rough for a while, but given time, water, and sunshine, it has a much better chance to bounce back and recover its growth.
How To Protect Watermelon From Deer?
Method No. 1: Install a Fence
Keeping deer away from your precious watermelon patch is a great idea, and a sturdy fence is the key to preventing them from feasting!
Since deer are amazing jumpers, your main wall needs to be high enough – think at least 8 feet tall – to stop them from easily leaping over.
But here’s a trick I’ve found really works well: consider putting up two parallel fences, spaced about 3 to 4 feet apart. This space between them messes with a deer’s ability to judge the distance for a safe landing when they jump, making them much less likely to even try.
You can use strong chicken wire, plastic netting, or metal mesh for these fences. Just mind that you leave enough room inside the barrier for your watermelon plants to grow big and spread out.
This setup also lets you easily adjust things or tend to individual plants. It’s smart to build it strong from the start, thinking about the future size of your vines.
Remember, deer have sharp eyes and will quickly spot your tempting melons if they can see them clearly on your land, so a good fence is your best bet!
Method No. 2: Repellents
Folks often complain when deer eat their precious watermelon right out of the garden! So, what works to keep them away? You can purchase commercial repellents or make your own home remedies.
A common store-bought type uses concentrated urine from predators like coyotes or foxes, which makes deer feel unnerved and unsafe.
Another effective homemade mix combines hot pepper and garlic sprays; the strong smell and taste really bother them.
The trick is to use these repellents regularly and keep alternating the types you apply – maybe predator scent one week, pepper spray the next. Why?
Because deer are smart and quickly adapt to one method, if you don’t switch it up. Sprinkling things like hair clippings around can also help, as human scents sometimes make them wary.
Method No. 3: Avoid frequent fertilizers
While deer absolutely love munching on ripe watermelon, treating it like a sweet treat, how you care for your garden can make things worse. Overdoing it, especially with strong nitrogen-based fertilizers, is a big no-no in my book. Why?
Well, all that extra nitrogen makes your plants, including tempting melon vines, grow super lush and sweet-smelling – basically ringing the dinner bell for hungry deer! It definitely attracts them.
Only use fertilizer when truly necessary, and apply it carefully and sparingly. To really protect your precious watermelons and other goodies from becoming deer snack time, physical barriers are your best friend.
Think sturdy nets or wire mesh fences; these physically prevent deer from reaching your plants and foraging right in your garden patch. It’s the most reliable way to keep deer away.
Method No. 4: Sidetracking
Deer find many garden plants palatable, meaning super tasty, but they avoid others that are distasteful.
To repel them, include natural deterrents like yarrow, boxwood, barberry, hollies, azalea, spirea, Shasta daisies, or iris around your property.
These act as a living repellent! Here’s a smart trick:
- Create a sacrifice section in one part of your yard where you grow plants deer love. They’ll likely eat there and leave your main garden alone.
- Alongside this, grow deer-resistant plants near your perimeter. If you bear with this setup now, your future garden will fare better. Deer are more willing to stick to their snack zone!
Method No. 5: Use motion deterrents
Deer are naturally skittish creatures means they scare easily, especially sensitive to hearing loud noises and seeing unexpected movement. We can use this to our advantage! My favorite, most reliable option is the motion-activated sprinkler.
Here’s the trick: place these sprinklers where deer approach, like in front of your precious watermelon patch. When a deer walks by, the device will detect its motion and instantly shoot a powerful burst of water.
The sudden noise and spray leave the startled deer hightailing it out of there! It works because it surprises them by using what they fear most.
Method No. 6: Garden or Deer Netting
You’d be surprised how much deer love sweet treats like watermelon rinds and fruit! To keep these hungry visitors out of your precious garden, physical barriers are key. Forget a short fence; deer can easily jump over it.
The right way involves netting specifically designed for this job. Think of it like a strong, fine mesh tent. For it to work, you need the correct setup.
Set sturdy posts around the perimeter, then place the netting securely overtop the entire watermelon patch, ensuring it’s high enough and well-anchored at the edges.
I’ve seen flimsy setups fail – proper installation makes all the difference! This creates a roof they can’t breach, protecting your melons.
Method No. 7: Companion Planting
So, you’re growing watermelons and maybe other tasty vegetables, but deer keep visiting? Companion planting is a smart trick! This means putting certain crops near your melons that deer really dislike.
These special plants act as natural deterrents because they have strong smells or an odor deer hate, basically becoming living repellents.
Think of them as guard plants! Some great resistant choices to fend off deer include:
- Garlic and daffodils (deer avoid digging near them).
- Lavender, with its lovely scent, we enjoy, but deer don’t.
- Strong-smelling herbs like sage, rosemary, and dill.
Planting these smelly friends around your watermelon patch creates a barrier that deer often won’t cross. For extra help, especially on the edges, you could also try Fend Off Sticks.
Method No. 8: Nylon Stockings with Soap
If you’re trying to protect your garden from deer snacking on treats like watermelon, try this clever hack with Irish Spring soap! Grab a bar of this strong-scented soap, slide it into a nylon stocking, and hang it from a tree branch around your plants.
The powerful scent is really good at keeping those curious deer out of the area because they dislike the smell—simple and effective!
Method No. 9: Plastic Owl or Scarecrow
Deer love sweet treats like watermelon and will munch on your entire patch if they get the chance! To discourage them from eating your melons, some folks try fake owls or scarecrows.
The idea is that these look like a predator (like a big bird or a scary person) to a deer. Deer are pretty mindful of danger, especially things that seem like a threat nearby.
A plastic owl might have big, shiny eyes, sometimes even red ones, meant to look scary like a cat’s eyes watching them.
Scarecrows often have scary faces or flapping clothes. Sometimes, adding strong smells (odors) near them can help make the spot seem even more unsafe.
The hope is that these tricks will make deer nervous enough to stop coming close or at least help keep them away for a while.
Method No. 10: Get Rid of the Bird Bath
That birdbath in your backyard or garden? It’s a water source for more than just birds! Deer love water, especially if it’s nearby. Having this free water nearby draws them close.
Take it away to help ease plant damage. You might not realize deer use it, but removing it makes your garden less inviting. Less water means less free food access, too!
Risks and Precautions
What Animals Naturally Eat Watermelons?
Conclusion:
Let’s face it, deer can be a real nuisance in our gardens and farms, especially when delicious crops like watermelon are around.
While they usually target leaves and tender shoots, they won’t say no to the sweet fruit itself if they get the chance! They might even nibble the tough rind.
Although watermelon plants aren’t always their first choice, hungry deer certainly aren’t immune to their appeal and can cause significant damage or completely consume your melons. This harm isn’t the exception; it happens with many tasty foods they find.
So, how do you prevent them from accessing your patch?
Your best bet is to install a sturdy fence that’s tall enough – deer are expert jumpers, so a high fence they can’t easily jump over is essential. If a really tall fence isn’t possible, a shorter one combined with other methods might help, but it’s less foolproof.
Planting strong-smelling plants like lavender or rosemary around your watermelon patch can create a thick, smelly barrier that deer dislike.
While no single trick is guaranteed, using these preventative measures together will increase your chances and reduce the likelihood of deer reaching your fruit. This gives you a much better option for finally harvesting your own bountiful, sweet, and juicy watermelons!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can deer eat watermelon?
Yes, deer definitely eat watermelon! They find the whole thing appealing and delectable. This includes the juicy fruits, tender leaves, stems, and even the vines. Watermelon offers a wealth of important nutrients. These help support their well-being and promote healthy growth.
Do deer eat watermelon skin?
Deer are herbivores, meaning they eat plants and fruits. Yep, they’ll consume watermelon, skin (rind) included, especially if other food sources are scarce. However, they much prefer the sweet, juicy flesh over the tough rind. So while it falls into their category of food, it’s not their favorite part.
Do deer eat watermelon vines?
Yes, deer often eat watermelon vines! They’re known to consume the young, tender leaves and stems of the plant. Especially when these plants are new, deer cause significant damage to crops. They aren’t easily deterred, so protecting your vines is key.
Do deer eat watermelon seeds?
Deer love sweet watermelon fruit! They readily eat the juicy flesh. But the hard seeds? Usually not; they spit them out or leave them behind.
