Do Deer Eat Hemlock?

Deer are known to have a diverse diet but typically, hemlock is not one of their preferred foods. Hemlocks are evergreen trees or shrubs that contain alkaloids, which can be toxic when consumed in large amounts. While some reports mentioned deer occasionally browsing on hemlock in areas where food options are scarce, they usually avoid this plant because of its bitter taste and potential toxicity. Thus, it etches the line between necessity diet and optional consumption depending upon the availability of other sources of food and vegetation for the deer.