Deer Damage vs Rabbit Damage to Stems
![deer damage hosta 2 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener deer damage](https://t9e4s3i5.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/deer-damage-hosta-2-600x766.jpg)
Q: I have two pots of Gerber daisies in my backyard. One is located right next to my wooden deck and the other is located 15 feet away. I can only enjoy the blooms on the pot that is located away from my deck for one day at a time.
Each time I get a mature bloom something is eating that bloom during the night. When I view the flower the next day all I have is an empty stem to look at.
A: Deer would be my guess…but it could be rabbit damage if the stem cut is within a foot of the ground..
The stem will be cleanly cut at a sharp angle if it’s a rabbit. Deer don’t have upper teeth so stems they nibble on have a flat and ragged cut.
![mail | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](https://t9e4s3i5.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mail-e1694792485464.jpg)
Cut at end of stem is sharp and 45 degrees = rabbit damage
![deer damage hosta 2 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener deer damage](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/deer-damage-hosta-2.jpg)
deer damage
![Picture1 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener](https://t9e4s3i5.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Picture1.jpg)
deer damage
![rabbit chew 1 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener rabbit damage](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/rabbit-chew-1-scaled.jpg)
rabbit damage
![rabbit chew 2 | Walter Reeves: The Georgia Gardener rabbit damage](http://www.walterreeves.com/wr2020/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/rabbit-chew-2-scaled.jpg)
rabbit damage