Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

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Whitetail Deer (Cervidae: Odocoileus virginianus)

The Whitetail Deer is found throughout most of North America except for the extreme north, California, and the Great Basin Desert region of the western United States. However the Whitetail deer is a familiar animal of the Eastern Deciduous Forest.

Identifying Features: The Whitetail deer is the only deer species of the Eastern Deciduous Forest. The male has antlers, but the female has none. Fawns are rusty brown and spotted with white.

Similar Species: Outside of the Eastern Deciduous Forest, the Whitetail Deer is very similar to the more western Mule Deer. The tail of the Whitetail Deer is broad and concolorous with body color above and pure white below. When running the tail is held upward like a white flag. The tail of the Mule Deer is thinner and is either white tipped with black (Rocky Mountains) or all black (Pacific Northwest).

Habitat: Forests, swamps, and brushy areas. With the encroachment of the suburbs into the forest, Whitetail Deer are regularly seen in the suburbs.

Food: Whitetail Deer are browsers feeding on twigs, leaves, shrubs, acorns, fungi, and grasses and herbs.

Behavior: During the summer Whitetail Deer stay by themselves although female are found with their fawns. During the winter Whitetail deer may form groups of up to 20 or more individuals. In the summer and fall males defend territories of about a mile in circumpherence. Individuals can run 35-40 miles per hour and jump up to 9 feet vertically easily getting over fences placed to keep them out.

Reproduction: Males compete for territories and mates in the fall. Fawns are born in the spring, each female having on average two fawns. Fawns are gestated after four months but may stay with the female for about a year.