Something Is Eating The Berries Off My Pyracantha Bush During…
Asked
Something is eating the berries off my pyracantha bush during the night. I am fairly certain it is not deer, there are no tracks around the bush. What bird or animal will eat the berries? Normally the berries will last all winter for the catbirds to feed on.
The Gardener’s Answer
There are several varieties of pyracantha (firethorn); they range in growth habit, but all are evergreen and produce various shades of bright yellow, orange-red berries. When it comes to food for animals, it is hard to say what is going to be eaten first during the colder months when food is less abundant. Depending on environmental conditions during the growing season, some favorites among birds and other animals may not have produced as well and so wildlife is forced to choose food that is otherwise saved for last.
I would also doubt that the deer are eating these highly ornamental berries, because they are considered deer-resistant. Nothing is deer-proof, but I would suspect birds to be the culprit. Pyracantha is a favorite among a variety of birds, including Northern mockingbirds and cedar waxwings.
