The most widely distributed deer in the Americas, recognizable by the bright white underside of their tail raised when alarmed.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The white-tailed deer, also known commonly as the whitetail and the Virginia deer, is a medium-sized species of deer native to North and South America. It is the most widely distributed mainland ungulate herbivore in the Americas; coupled with its natural predator, the mountain lion, it is one of the most widely distributed terrestrial mammal species in the Americas and the world. Highly adaptable, the various subspecies of white-tailed deer inhabit many different ecosystems, from arid grasslands to the Amazon and Orinoco basins; from the Llanos to the high-elevation terrain of the Andes.
Source: Wikipedia — White-tailed deer Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Reddish-brown in summer, gray-brown in winter; white belly and tail.
Similar species. Mule Deer (western). Elk and Moose much larger.
Voice. Snorts, bleats. Rarely vocal.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Browse: shrubs, twigs, forbs, fruits, acorns.
Behavior. Most active at dawn and dusk. Bucks shed antlers each winter.
§ Range
Throughout the eastern, central, and parts of western North America
§ Habitat
Forests, grasslands, agricultural fields, and suburban edges
§ Threats
Vehicle collisions, overpopulation in some regions causing forest regeneration issues, chronic wasting disease.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the white-tailed deer is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support science-based hunting management. Drive carefully at dawn and dusk in deer-zone signs.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — White-tailed deer
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Odocoileus virginianus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 42394
- iNaturalist · taxon 42164
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Odocoileus virginianus
§ Sources cited
- National Deer Association
- USDA Forest Service
- IUCN Red List 2016
