Deer and rabbits will eat ferns and just about anything else....DO NOT assume that they have read the deer/rabbit resistant plant lists because they haven't! I also live in the VA mtns (northern VA) and I can tell you that I have never seen so many rabbits/deer as I've seen this Spring! I was excited because the slug population seems to have taken a beating over the winter and my seedlings survived but trilliums, bloodroot, ferns etc etc have all been fair game for the rabbits and deer! Try and cage what you can! Good luck!

Deer ate my ferns this winter, first time ever, but we had a very cold winter. Made me appreciate even more the deciduous ferns, which came back beautifully.

Mountaintop, I agree with you that ferns are rarely eaten by deer. Of course, there's a big difference between 'rarely' and 'never'! It appears the deer in your area don't know that they aren't supposed to eat ferns! I'd be upset too as I also enjoy seeing them. In the area where my tree farm is located, there are vast monocultures of ostrich fern growing in wet ditches, including right out in full sun. Quite the sight to see, let alone the more varied woodland types which can also be seen.

Not a lot to be done about it at this point, beyond hoping for better luck next year. Here, I'm assuming this was winter feeding? Of course, where I'm at, ferns would be safely buried under snow during that season. It must be a different set of challenges to have the ground layer exposed all winter.

+oM

Deer and rabbits do not bother my ferns and astilbe, but woodchucks love them. Liquid Fence (for deer and rabbits) does not deter them. Could you possibly have a woodchuck snacking on your plants?