What kind of animal eats ferns?

There are many different kinds of animals that eat ferns, including white-tailed deer, rabbits and insects such as caterpillars. Not all animals can eat ferns because some are toxic to animals, such as the bracken fern, which is highly toxic to horses and pigs as well as cattle. read more

Although some animals feed on ferns, the vast majority avoid eating them because ferns produce a chemical toxic to most living things. Scientists believe these dangerous phytochemicals are not present throughout the entire fern plant, leaving the spores relatively toxin-free. read more

Most animals avoid ferns because the mature fronds are poisonous. Humans and most farm animals like cattle, horses, pigs, etc. will get sick if they eat mature fern fronds. White-tailed deer, rabbits, and European wood mice are a few animals that can eat ferns. read more