If your curiosity is peaked and you want to know what animals consume these juicy berries then this article is for you.
Many different types of animals enjoy eating blueberries. Raccoons, deer, chipmunks, and birds are all known to feast on these delicious berries. Blueberry bushes are often found in wooded areas near streams or ponds where the wildlife can easily access them.
The nutritional value of blueberries makes them a healthy snack for both people and animals. Next time you are out in the wilderness, keep your eyes peeled for these antioxidant-rich berries.
A look at four animals that enjoy blueberries
The first animal on our list of creatures that love to eat blueberries is the North American Black Bear (Ursus americanus). This bear will find all sorts of food sources in order to survive including plants, insects, eggs, rodents, and even carrion; but one of its favorite treats is a tasty pile of delicious blueberries.
Next up we have the Eastern Cottontail Rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) who can often be found foraging under shrubs or fallen trees. When this cute, cuddly creature eats its favorite foods you can expect to find bark, twigs, and leaves on the menu along with berries.
Our third animal is the Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) which are also called Whiskey Jacks which has nothing to do with their fondness of fermented fruits like blueberries, but comes from the Cree word for these birds; wisikejack. These birds will also eat insects and acorns to survive; but what they love best is a delicious treat of sweet, ripe blueberries.
The final animal that we will discuss today is the Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) which are small songbirds. You can usually find these cute creatures hanging out in evergreen trees where they feast on insects, seeds, and of course blueberries.
So there you have it, four animals that love to eat blueberries. If you ever see any of these creatures in the wild be sure to take a moment and appreciate their beauty.
What nutritional values do blueberries have
Blueberries are small, round berries that come into season in the summer. They have a rich purple-blue color and can range from barely blue to very dark blue. Blueberries are an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, two essential nutrients for good health.
A half cup serving of fresh or frozen blueberries has about 60 calories and is low in fat (1 gram). A half cup serving contains over 4 grams of fiber which helps keep animals full longer because it takes their stomach a long time to break down fiber. Just one serving provides more than 100% of their daily need for vitamin C. In addition, research suggests that eating foods high in vitamin C may help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.
Manganese is important for many enzyme reactions in the body and is also a component of some antioxidant enzymes. A half cup serving of blueberries has about 0.25 milligrams of manganese or 13% of the recommended daily intake.
Blueberries are also a good source of vitamin K, potassium, and phosphorus.
Mammals that eat blueberries
- White-tailed Deer
- American Black Bear
- Chipmunk
- Coyote
- Gray Fox
- Red Fox
- Snowshoe Hare
- Common White-footed Mouse
- Deer Mouse
- Opossum
- Northern Raccoon
- Hispid Cotton Rat
- Striped Skunk
- Red Squirrel
- Fox Squirrel
- Gray Squirrel
- Vole
Birds that eat blueberries
- Gray Catbird
- Yellow-bellied Chat
- Blue Jay
- Northern Mockingbird
- Baltimore Oriole
- Fox Sparrow
- Tanager
- Brown Thrasher
- Eastern Towhee
- Veery
- Cedar Waxwing
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Bluebird
- Bunting
- Northern Cardinal
- Chickadee
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- American Crow
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Dickcissel
- Purple Finch
- Northern Flicker
- Flycatcher
- Common Grackle
- Grosbeak
- Eastern Kingbird
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Orchard Oriole
- Eastern Phoebe
- American Robin
- Sparrow
- European Starling
- Thrush
- Tufted Titmouse
- Vireo
- Warbler
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- Woodpecker
Water Birds that eat blueberries
- Ring-necked Pheasant
- Northern Bobwhite
- Ruffed Grouse
- Sharp-tailed Grouse
- Gray Partridge
- Wild Turkey
- American Woodcock
Reptiles that eat blueberries
- Box Turtle
