The pear, a fruit from the genus Pyrus, is cultivated globally across all temperate zones, establishing itself as one of the world’s most important fruit trees. With thousands of cultivated varieties, the fruit is readily available in many ecosystems, from orchards to ornamental trees. As a high-sugar food source, the fruit, especially when fallen and overripe, plays a significant ecological role by providing energy for a diverse range of animals and insects.
Mammalian Pear Eaters
White-tailed deer are frequent consumers of pears, targeting both the fruit and the foliage. They commonly feed on fruit that has fallen to the ground, but they will also browse on young pear leaves and twigs, which can significantly damage the tree and reduce future yield. If a grower observes branches stripped of leaves and fruit gone from the lower canopy, deer are the likely culprits.
Smaller mammals like raccoons and opossums primarily scavenge for dropped or easily accessible low-hanging fruit. Raccoons, known for their dexterity, often leave behind half-eaten fruit with distinctive, non-uniform bite marks. Opossums tend to consume the soft flesh of fallen, bruised pears.
Rodents such as squirrels and mice also consume pears. Squirrels typically carry off whole pears to consume or cache, often leaving behind a pear core or fragments with small, sharp incisor marks. Bears, where present, consume large quantities of fruit, often climbing trees to access higher fruit and leaving signs of disturbance like broken branches.
Avian and Insect Pests
Birds and insects typically attack pears while they are still hanging on the tree, leading to cosmetic or core damage. Common fruit-eating birds, such as robins and starlings, create small, localized pecking damage, sometimes appearing as wedge-shaped wounds. Large flocks can cause substantial crop loss by repeatedly pecking multiple fruits, often opening the fruit to secondary pests.
The Codling Moth (Cydia pomonella) larvae burrow into the core of the fruit, making the pear unmarketable and sometimes causing premature dropping. Other insects, like wasps and fruit flies, are attracted to the sugary liquid of damaged or overripe fruit. These insects extend the initial injury caused by birds or larger pests.
The Hidden Dangers of Pears for Wildlife
Pears, like other fruits in the rose family, contain natural chemical compounds that can pose a risk to animals, especially when consumed in large quantities. Pear seeds contain amygdalin, a cyanogenic glycoside that releases hydrogen cyanide when the seeds are crushed or digested. Although the concentration is relatively low, the toxicity risk increases for smaller animals that consume a significant number of seeds relative to their body weight.
A more common danger for wildlife is the fermentation of fallen fruit, which naturally produces ethanol. Pears that drop and sit on the ground ferment as yeasts convert the high sugar content into alcohol. Animals like deer, raccoons, and birds that consume large amounts of this fermented fruit can become intoxicated. This intoxication leads to impaired coordination and reduced awareness, making them vulnerable to predators or accidents.