White-tailed deer in Southeast consume over 400 plant species, study shows

White-tailed deer in the Southeastern United States consume more than 400 different plant species, according to wildlife officials. The deer are opportunistic feeders that adapt their diet based on seasonal availability.

Their diet includes forbs, which are herbaceous broad-leaved plants; browse, such as twigs, vines, and leaves of woody plants; and mast, which encompasses fruits and nuts. They also eat grasses and sedges, mainly early growth cereal grains and cool-season annuals, officials said.

Wildlife officials recommend land management practices that take these dietary preferences into account to support healthy deer populations. More information on deer diets and habitat management can be found at the Missouri Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks website.

Photographer Steve Gulledge captured images of deer in their natural environment, officials noted.

Source: Original Article