What highly sought-after food source dictates the deer diet in the Fall to build necessary fat reserves?
Answer
Acorns (Hard mast)
The fall diet is overwhelmingly dominated by the availability of the mast crop, particularly hard mast, which consists of nuts like acorns. Acorns are crucial because they are densely packed with fats and carbohydrates, providing the essential high-energy content deer need to rapidly accumulate body fat reserves. This stored energy is vital preparation for the demands of the breeding season, known as the rut, and to ensure adequate insulation and survival capacity heading into the scarcity of winter.
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