ANIMAL: White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Type of Animal: Deer Habitat: Edge habitats, forest edges/openings, forested woodlots, forest, woodland, brushy areas/brushland, agricultural areas, bottomlands, riparian areas, wooded draws, creek bottoms, floodplains, tall woody vegetation areas along drainages, plains, fields, ranchland, shrubland, grass-shrub communities, savanna, tree stands, clearcuts, meadows, grassland, parkland, pine sandhills, swamps, wetlands, marshes, mountainous areas, foothills, plateaus, desert mesas, desert, chaparral, sage communities, shrub-steppe, thornscrub, rock pineland, hardwood hammocks, river basins, suburban areas, residential areas, yards Location(s): Native range from S Canada to N & W South America. Introduced to New Zealand, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, & continental Europe Appearance: Coloration ranges from reddish-brown to grayish-brown, coat less colorful in winter, males larger than females, noticeable white-undersided tail, bucks (males) have antlers, does (females) don’t, white belly/throat, younger fawns reddish-brown w/ white spots, largest specimens in N US & Canada, smallest specimens in Florida Keys (Key Deer) Food/Diet: Forbs, young shoots, berries, twigs, woody/semi-woody plants, stemmy plants, tree bark, lichens, acorns, nuts, corn, crops, clover, alfalfa, leaves, fruit/fruit trees, hostas, arborvitae, mushrooms, succulent wild weeds, cereal grains, greenbrier, Japanese honeysuckle, vegetables, seeds, grass, new buds, honey locust pods, greens, filamentous algae, pond lilies, sedges, aquatic plants, conifer needles, herbs, perennials, flowers, hydrangeas, daylilies, shrubs, bulbs Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos & wildlife parks. Having specific hunting seasons. Lifestyle: Herds range from 2-25 deer. They can be mixed-sex or single-sex. Solitary bucks also occur. Additional Info: Called: Male: Buck Female: Doe Young: Fawn Group: Herd Weight: Male: 100-300 lbs Female: 80-160 lbs Young: 30 lbs Gestation: 6.5-7 months Life Span: 4-8 years in wild, 14-16 years in captivity Height: Male: 3-3.5 ft Female: 2.8-3 ft Body Length: Male: 5-7.2 ft Female: 4-6 ft Tail Length: 6-12 in, same for both sexes Main predators of adults are wolves, coyotes, cougars, bobcats, bears, lynx, crocodilians, feral dogs, large snakes, jaguars, & golden eagles. Bald eagles, great horned owls, foxes, & ocelots prey on young/juveniles. Generally crepuscular (most active at dawn & dusk) Fun Fact(s): Generally skittish, bucks become highly aggressive during rut (breeding season). They can reach speeds of up to 30 mph & leap up to 8 ft high.
