Most people love animals and flowers. But most people don’t love it when animals eat their flowers. However, we must accept that it’s part of nature. A wide variety of animals live to make a meal of flowers. Some are attracted to the smell and taste. Others need the nectar and nutrients for optimum survival.

17 Animals That Eat Flowers

From rabbits to snails and sunflowers to roses. Animals have been munching on flowers since time began. Read on to see fabulous photos and facts about 17 animals that eat flowers.

You are viewing: What Animals Eat Flowers

1. Rabbits

Scientific name: Leporidae

When not burrowing underground, these small furry mammals love to make a feast of just about any flower they can get their paws on. However, some are more appetizing than others. So much so, a rabbit will take up residence in an area where its favorite flower is in abundance. Some favorites of the rabbit include:

• impatiens
• pansy
• morning glory
• petunia
• snapdragon
• iris
• tulips
• daisy

A natural, non-harmful way to keep the bunnies (and other animals) at bay is to plant shrubs and flowers that they don’t like.

2. Turtles

Scientific name: Testudines

These shelled reptiles are definitely cold-blooded when it comes to our flower beds. Though slow to move, they will seek out the opportunity to chomp away on flowers. Some of their favorites include:

• geraniums
• carnations
• hibiscus
• roses

Some people will plant decoy flowers to keep the turtle away from the real things.

3. Moose

Scientific name: Alces alces

One might think these large beasts, weighing up to 1500 hundred pounds, might need more than flowers. They do. Moose eat a lot of leaves, twigs, and buds. That’s not to say they don’t enjoy a snack of some sweet smelling flowers. Moose will eat flowers such as:

• water lilies
• tulips
• horsetail

4. Deer

Scientific name: Cervidae

Deer can adapt to and live in a variety of habitats. Forests, thickets, prairies, and even urban areas are places where the deer species can be found. No matter where they live, one thing is for sure, they’ll be looking for flowers. Some of their favorites are:

• daffodils
• sunflowers
• dahlias
• tulips
• goldenrod
• cosmos
• hyacinths

Deer loves flowers with a soft smell. If you want to keep them away, plant more strong smelling flowers around the flower bed.

5. Catepillar

Read more : What Cheese Goes With Pears

Scientific name: Lepidoptera

Caterpillars are the larvae of butterflies or moths. Molting several times before their transformation, they are voracious eaters. Living on and eating plant material, they love flowers like:

• milkweed
• snapdragons
• lupine
• violets
• lilacs
• daisies
• hollyhock
• verbena

6. Bees

Scientific name: Anthophila

Though bees do get nutrients from flowers, they also help humans by pollinating the flowers. Giving back what they take. Also, the flower nutrients are taken back to the hive to feed the bee larvae. Some bee favorites include:

• honeysuckle
• indigo
• coneflower
• black-eyed Susan
• goldenrod
• peonies
• marigolds

7. Butterfly

Scientific name: Rhopalocera

With large colorful wings, butterflies are found all over the world. Chances are when you see one, flowers are not too far away. Some butterfly favorites are:

• purple coneflower
• hibiscus
• lavender
• lilac
• aster

8. Groundhog

Scientific name: Marmota monax

These furry, burrowing pests may not be great at predicting the weather, but they do love to chew their way through some flowers including:

• marigolds
• daylilies
• roses
• zinnias
• impatiens
• petunias

9. Snail

Scientific name: Gastropoda

These shelled, mucus-laden creatures have anywhere from 14,000 to 20,000 teeth! So, while they look harmless, even cute while slugging along in your garden. They’re really looking for their favorite flowers to sink all those teeth into like:

• violets
• lilies
• marigolds
• dahlias
• larkspur
• dandelions

10. Squirrel

Scientific name: Sciuridae

While squirrels are well known for eating nuts, berries, and even cable wires, they love a good flower too. Watch out for these puffy-tailed rodents if you have these flowers:

• tulips
• hibiscus
• petunias
• sunflowers
• impatiens

11. Birds

Scientific name: Aves

Read more : What Does 514 Mean

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there are 2,059 species of birds in North America. Just about all of them eat flowers. Many will eat the flower blossoms of trees like the apple, pear, and peach. Birds also enjoy:

• sunflowers
• marigolds
• daisies
• aster
• coneflower
• black-eyed Susan

12. Beetle

Scientific name: Coleoptera

With over 300,000 species, beetles make up 40% of the insect population. Called “dirty pollinators”, they compliment the pollination work of bees and butterflies by eating flowers then defecating on them! The flowers they like are:

• roses
• magnolias
• tulips
• water lilies
• goldenrod
• wintersweet

13. Iguana

Scientific name: Iguanidae

The Iguana is a reptile that is exclusively an herbivore. This species munches on a variety of vegetation and foliage. Flowers they are attracted to include:

• geraniums
• carnations
• marigolds
• snapdragons
• pansies

14. Cats

Scientific name: Felis catus

Cats do not just eat our flowers to annoy us. Certain flowers contain many nutrients that cats need. They are often attracted to:

• roses
• daisies
• snapdragons
• carnations

15. Tortoise

Scientific name: Testudindae

Many different types of tortoise will graze throughout the day on a variety of plants. The flowers they enjoy are:

• dandolions
• pansies
• chickweed
• geraniums
• violet

16. Chipmunk

Scientific name: Tamias

Chipmunks are small, striped rodents with chubby cheeks found all over North America. Their diet consists of seeds, insects, bird eggs, and plant matter. The chipmunk will eat any part of a flower including the stem and bulbs. Some flowers they consume are:

• marigolds
• petunias
• impatiens
• sunflowers
• verbena
• tulips

17. Voles

Scientific name: Microtus

Voles are small rodents related to the hamster. In North America, they are often referred to as field mice. These tiny animals love a variety of flowers and bulbs. These include:

• crocus
• tulips
• hyacinths
• daisies
• lilies
• dahlias
• peonies
• iris

Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHAT