Summer:
* Grasses: They prefer lush, green grasses like meadow grasses and fescue.
* Herbs: They also enjoy a variety of wildflowers and herbs.
* Leaves: They may browse on leaves of trees and shrubs.
* Fruits: They will eat fruits like berries and apples when available.
Winter:
* Grasses: They will eat dried grasses and sedges.
* Twigs: They browse on twigs and bark of trees and shrubs.
* Buds: They eat buds for extra nutrients.
* Lichens: They may consume lichens in harsh winters.
Other:
* Mushrooms: They may occasionally eat mushrooms.
* Roots: They may dig for roots in some areas.
Red deer are ruminants, which means they have a four-chambered stomach that helps them digest tough plant material. They regurgitate food back into their mouth to chew it more thoroughly.