The short answer-yes. Deer enjoy breaking and eating melons like cantaloupes. This is especially true when the fruits are ripe.
Cantaloupes have a lot of water and nutrients deer need for survival. They are also easier to digest, and they provide plenty of nutrients. They are safe for deer, and even the seeds are harmless.
The cantaloupe weighs an average of 5lbs, so it is a big melon than you can never imagine. And the outside cover is pretty hard to open. So, how exactly do deer open the cantaloupe? Well, this is pretty simple. Deer use their hooves to break down the cantaloupe.
Deer Eat Everything
Deer are specialized herbivores, but they mostly rely on young grasses, buds, foliages, aquatic plants, and fruits. But this depends on the season and availability.
Deer prefer to eat wild beans and sweet clover during the spring. During the winter, deer-like eating wheat and coralberry. When not feeding, you will find these animals sunbathing.
What is it about Cantaloupe Deer Like?
Cantaloupes are juicy summer fruits that belong to the same family of watermelon, pumpkins, and cucumbers. They were first grown in Persia, but the fruits made their way to the new world in the late 1400s.
Cantaloupes thrive well in warm soils. So, if you are a gardener, ensure your ground temperature is above 70 degrees F before deciding on planting cantaloupes. Also, you have to prepare the planting bed well because cantaloupes are heavy feeders.
Cantaloupes enjoy a happy growth under full sun and in well-drained soil. With optimal care (about 1-2 inches of water every week), cantaloupes take about eighty days to mature.
Facts to know about cantaloupes
- The heaviest cantaloupe in the historical record weighs 63 pounds
- Proper pollination requires an average of 10-15 bees
- American cantaloupes have tough net-like covers, while European cantaloupes have smooth green skin.
Do deer eat cantaloupe skin?
Deer are picky animals and do not like eating the outer part of the cantaloupe.
The cantaloupe rind may be hard enough to break, making it difficult for them to eat. But some deer can eat the rind after a month because it is already soft to chew. This is especially true during winter periods.
How to prevent deer from eating cantaloupes
There are a plethora of ways to repel deer from invading your cantaloupe garden. Some of them may include;
Use a soap
If you’re having a deer problem, use a bar of Irish Spring soap to keep them away. Cut the soap into slivers and spread it around your garden. Deer hate the smell of soap. So, you will no longer see them approaching your garden.
Alternatively, you can use dawn dish soap. It can work as effectively as bar soap to prevent them from attacking your garden. Almost all soaps will do in a pinch.
Install a fence around your garden
Plunge posts into the ground using a hammer. Connect one end with a plastic deer fence and tie them using zips. Pull the fence to the next post until you close the entire area.
Plant pepper plants
Deer never enjoy the scent of peppers. So, planting them around your cantaloupe garden will deter them.
Scatter coffee on your cantaloupe garden
Deer hate the bitter smell of coffee. The smell of coffee can signal the presence of humans, thus, keeping them away.
Plant garlic, rosemary, and lavender
Deer have a strong sense of smell, which they use to find food. But deer do not like the smell of these plants. So, take advantage of these plants to keep deer away.
Using aluminum pie plates
Hang the pie plate on one side of your cantaloupe garden. Drill a hole in the edge, then tie a rope to the plate. Then suspend it from a branch. The movement and reflection of the plate on the sun will repel deer from approaching your garden.
Do Deer Eat Cantaloupe?: Conclusion
Deer love sweet things. Their diet includes barks, berries, and other delicious vegetations.
But these animals lack manners in the garden when it comes to cantaloupes.