Summer:
* Forbs: These are non-woody flowering plants, including clovers, wildflowers, and grasses.
* Grasses: Especially during the early growth stages in the spring.
* Leaves: From trees and shrubs, like willows, maples, and oaks.
* Fruits and berries: They enjoy a variety of berries like huckleberries, elderberries, and strawberries.
Winter:
* Twigs and buds: They browse on the twigs and buds of deciduous trees like maple, willow, and oak.
* Evergreen needles: They will eat needles from various coniferous trees like fir and pine.
* Lichens: These are found on trees and rocks, providing important nutrition.
* Grasses and forbs: They will eat whatever they can find, especially in areas where snow cover is low.
Year-round:
* Mushrooms and fungi: They are opportunistic and will eat a variety of fungi depending on availability.
* Bark: While not their primary food source, they will strip bark from trees during times of scarcity.
Black-tailed deer are selective grazers, meaning they choose the most nutritious and palatable plants available. Their diet also varies depending on the region and habitat they live in.
It's important to remember that deer are wild animals and should be observed from a safe distance.