Deer eating leaf litter

[Fabnosh]

I've had trail cams out in my wood for a few years now and regularly get good stills and footage of the Roe, Muntjac, Fallow and Sika going about their normal lives. This year however I've noticed that, despite a late abundance of fresh shoots and foliage, all of the deer species are electing to eat fallen leaves. I've never seen this before. I'm guessing, and it is just a guess, that the fallen leaves must have some mineral breakdown products that aren't in fresh growth and it is these that the deer need.

Can anyone shed any further light on this?

Thanks

FN

 

[SikaSeeker]

They are also eating acorns, chestnuts etc… this time of year you will see leafs and rough matter in their stomachs.

 

[Tim.243]

I've had trail cams out in my wood for a few years now and regularly get good stills and footage of the Roe, Muntjac, Fallow and Sika going about their normal lives. This year however I've noticed that, despite a late abundance of fresh shoots and foliage, all of the deer species are electing to eat fallen leaves. I've never seen this before. I'm guessing, and it is just a guess, that the fallen leaves must have some mineral breakdown products that aren't in fresh growth and it is these that the deer need.

Can anyone shed any further light on this?

Thanks

FN

Fallow have eaten sweet chestnuts plastic bale wrap wheat acorns so deer have a varied diet

 

[VSS]

I've often noticed my deer eating fallen leaves. Usually after it's been windy.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Deer will eat themselves fit on anything crunchy:

K

 

[HonestJohn]

Lots of sugar and nutrients in fresh fallen leaves, deer like them.

 

[GWP]

I watched a roe doe eating leaves inside a release pen before the birds were put in looked like large sycamore spent quite a bit of time just were leaves had blown against the pen net

 

[Norfolk Horn]

I've often noticed my deer eating fallen leaves. Usually after it's been windy.

Sheep to after a good blow

 

[Freeforester]

I've had trail cams out in my wood for a few years now and regularly get good stills and footage of the Roe, Muntjac, Fallow and Sika going about their normal lives. This year however I've noticed that, despite a late abundance of fresh shoots and foliage, all of the deer species are electing to eat fallen leaves. I've never seen this before. I'm guessing, and it is just a guess, that the fallen leaves must have some mineral breakdown products that aren't in fresh growth and it is these that the deer need.

Can anyone shed any further light on this?

Thanks

FN

Similar to when a fallen tree often gets many of its leaves fairly quickly stripped, it’s likely that the roots of the tree are able to access the trace elements that gradually get lost over time owing to slightly acid rain washing them down below the depth of grass roots, etc. The deeper roots draw up these trace elements and this is what the deer seek out.

A few years back we dug a trench for drains through the grass lawn about 3 foot or more deep, replacing the upper portion of soil from the dig with that from the bottom of the trench; for months afterwards, the grass which covered the trench line was noticeably darker and more lush looking than that on either side. This was due to the greater availability to its roots of the trace elements.

The grass can indeed be ‘greener on the other side’!

 

[HonestJohn]

Sheep to after a good blow

I’ve never eaten leaves after a good blow, but then, I’m not a sheep.

 

[pob]

I’ve never eaten leaves after a good blow, but then, I’m not a sheep.

I've smoked some after a good blow.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

I've smoked some after a good blow.

 

[Norfolk Horn]

You boys at the back ( you know who you are)
Can you please behave

 

[TringSaint]

Sheep to after a good blow

My sheep like conkers!

 

[VSS]

My sheep like conkers!

Toxic to sheep, I believe.

 

[TringSaint]

Toxic to sheep, I believe.

That’s what I thought but they love them!