They are difficult to repair and are usually left to send up new shoots from below the damaged area. Fruiting, however, will not occur until several years after the damage has been done. The fence must be high enough to keep deer from jumping in and with small enough sections to prevent rabbits from entering. Deer can be a problem throughout the year, feeding on leaves and new growth in the summer and shortening back the ends of branches in the winter. Deer have also been known to damage strawberries in the winter by eating the leaves of the plants.
Rabbits usually damage only trees and bush fruits in the winter.
They may remove twigs or strip off bark from the trunk or branches. It is very time-consuming to repair bark that has been stripped. You can discourage deer and rabbits from entering your orchard by spreading blood meal. The meal offends the animals and they tend to stay away. When food supplies are low, the meal does not deter the animals.