If you’ve ever grown watermelons, you’ve probably wondered, do deer eat watermelons? The short answer is yes, absolutely. Deer are opportunistic feeders, and a ripe, sugary watermelon is a tempting treat for them. This can be frustrating after months of care, only to find your crop damaged or gone overnight. Understanding their behavior is the first step to protecting your garden.
Do Deer Eat Watermelons
Deer don’t just eat watermelons; they often target them specifically when other food is scarce. They are attracted to the high water content and sweet flesh, especially in the heat of summer. A deer will use its sharp hooves to crack open a melon and its teeth to scoop out the juicy insides, often leaving a hollowed-out rind behind.
What Parts of the Watermelon Do Deer Eat?
Deer are not picky when it comes to your watermelon patch. They will consume almost every part of the plant.
- The Fruit: This is the main attraction. They eat the red (or yellow) flesh and the seeds.
- The Rind: While less prefered, hungry deer will chew on the tough green outer rind.
- The Vines and Leaves: Tender young vines and leaves are a common snack, which can stunt or kill the plant before it even fruits.
Why Deer Love Your Watermelon Patch
Your garden is essentially a buffet for local wildlife. Several factors make your melons a target.
- Sweet Taste and Smell: As watermelons ripen, their sugar content rises and their scent strengthens, drawing deer in from a distance.
- High Water Content: In dry periods, watermelons provide crucial hydration.
- Easy Access: Gardens are often in open areas, and watermelon vines sprawl on the ground, making the fruit easy to reach.
How to Tell if Deer Are Eating Your Watermelons
It’s important to confirm the culprit. Deer leave distinct signs.
- Hollowed-out watermelon rinds with jagged edges.
- Cleanly bitten-off vines and leaves (unlike the ragged tears from insects).
- Hoof prints in soft soil around the garden.
- Deer droppings (small, pellet-like clusters) nearby.
Effective Strategies to Protect Your Watermelon Crop
Protecting your harvest requires a layered approach. What works for one gardener might not for another, depending on deer pressure.
1. Physical Barriers (Most Effective)
Fences are the most reliable long-term solution.
- Tall Fencing: A permanent fence should be at least 8 feet tall, as deer are excellent jumpers.
- Electric Fencing: A two-strand electric fence at 1 and 3 feet high can be a good deterrent. The mild shock teaches deer to avoid the area.
- Individual Plant Cages: Use wire mesh or sturdy netting to create cages around each watermelon mound. This is great for smaller gardens.
2. Deer Repellents
Repellents work by smell or taste and need frequent reapplication, especially after rain.
- Homemade Sprays: Mixtures of eggs, garlic, or hot pepper sauce blended with water can be sprayed on plants. Reapply every 1-2 weeks.
- Commercial Repellents: Look for products containing putrescent egg solids or capsaicin. Follow the label instructions closely.
- Soap and Hair: Hanging strongly-scented bar soap or bags of human/pet hair around the garden can sometimes work, but deer may become accustomed to it.
3. Garden Planning and Deterrents
Smart layout and scare tactics can help.
- Plant Deer-Resistant Borders: Surround your watermelon patch with plants deer dislike, such as lavender, marigolds, or herbs like mint and rosemary.
- Use Motion-Activated Devices: Sprinklers, lights, or noisemakers that activate with movement can startle deer away. Move them regularly so deer don’t get used to them.
- Get a Dog: The scent and presence of a dog patrolling the area is a strong natural deterrent.
What to Do if Deer Already Ate Your Watermelons
Don’t lose hope. If you’ve had damage, act quickly to save the rest of your season.
- Assess the damage. If vines are partially eaten, the plant may recover with care.
- Clean up damaged fruit to avoid attracting pests like yellow jackets or rodents.
- Immediately install a protective barrier or apply a repellent to the remaining plants.
- Consider planting a fast-growing, late-season crop elsewhere as a distraction.
Companion Planting to Discourage Deer
While no plant is completely deer-proof, interplanting with strong-smelling species can mask the scent of your melons. Good companions include:
- Onions and Garlic
- Oregano and Sage
- French Marigolds
- Lavender
Remember, in times of extreme hunger, deer may ignore these and eat anything, so companion planting is best combined with other methods.
FAQs About Deer and Watermelons
Will deer eat watermelon rind?
Yes, they will chew on the rind, especially if they are very hungry or if the fruit inside is mostly gone. They find the white part of the rind somewhat palatable.
What other garden vegetables do deer eat?
Deer have broad tastes. They commonly eat beans, peas, lettuce, sweet corn, and berries. They tend to avoid pungent herbs and vegetables like onions, asparagus, and rhubarb.
Do deer like watermelon seeds?
Deer don’t mind them at all. They consume the seeds right along with the juicy flesh of the fruit. The seeds pass through their digestive system unharmed.
What time of day are deer most likely to eat my watermelons?
Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, so this is when most garden raids occur. However, in quiet areas with little human activity, they may feed during the day too.
Are there any watermelon varieties deer don’t like?
No. Deer will eat any variety of watermelon if given the chance. Their preference is based on ripeness and sweetness, not the specific cultivar. A ripe Sugar Baby is just as attractive as a ripe Crimson Sweet.
Guarding your watermelons from deer takes persistence and often a combination of tactics. Start with the strongest barrier you can manage, like a fence or sturdy cages. For many gardeners, this is the only surefire solution. Pay attention to the signs in your garden and adjust your strategy as needed. With some effort, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor—instead of feeding the local wildlife.