White-tailed deer

decomposing

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Artiodactyla
• Family: Cervidae
• Subfamily: Capreolinae
• Genus: Odocoileus
• Species: Odocoileus virginianus

Common Names by Region

• North America: White-tailed Deer
• Central America: Venado Cola Blanca
• South America: Ciervo de Cola Blanca
• Indigenous Names:
  • Lakota: Tahca
  • Ojibwe: Waawaashkeshi
  • Mayan: Tsíimin

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Description

• Size: Adult males (bucks) range from 68-190 kg (150-420 lbs), while females (does) weigh between 40-95 kg (88-209 lbs).
• Height: 90-110 cm (35-43 inches) at the shoulder.
• Coat: Reddish-brown in summer, turning grayish-brown in winter.
• Tail: Distinctive white underside, raised as an alarm signal.
• Antlers: Found on males, shed and regrown annually.

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Known Range

• Native Range: Widespread across North, Central, and South America. Found from Canada to Peru.
• Cultivated/Introduced Range: Populations introduced in parts of the Caribbean and Europe.

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Habitat & Ecology

• Preferred Habitat:
  • Deciduous forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural areas.
  • Thrives in ecotones (transitional zones between habitats).
• Diet:
  • Herbivorous: Eats leaves, twigs, acorns, fruits, and fungi.
  • Occasionally consumes crops and ornamental plants in human-occupied areas.
• Predators:
  • Natural: Wolves, cougars, bobcats, and alligators (in the South).
  • Human: Hunting and vehicle collisions are major mortality causes.

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Behavior & Social Structure

• Activity: Most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular).
• Social Groups:
  • Matriarchal groups of does and fawns.
  • Bucks tend to be solitary or form small bachelor groups outside of mating season.
• Communication:
  • Uses tail and body postures to signal danger.
  • Vocalizations include grunts, bleats, and snorts.
• Breeding:
  • Mating Season: October to December (varies by region).
  • Gestation: ~200 days, usually 1-2 fawns per birth.

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Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Least Concern
• Threats: Habitat loss, overhunting in some areas, and disease (e.g., Chronic Wasting Disease).
• Conservation Efforts: Managed hunting, habitat restoration, and rewilding programs in some regions.

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Additional Notes

• Cultural Significance:
  • Featured in Indigenous folklore and mythology as a messenger or spirit guide.
  • Symbol of wildlife conservation in North America.
• Economic Importance:
  • Popular game species.
  • Considered both a keystone species and a pest in agricultural regions due to browsing habits.
• Interesting Fact:
  • White-tailed deer can sprint up to 48 km/h (30 mph) and jump over 2.7 meters (9 feet).