
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer, an iconic symbol of North American wilderness. Their beauty and strength are evident as they bound through forests and meadows, flashing their white tails. Let's journey into the world of the white-tailed deer to discover their intriguing ecology and the environments they call home!
White-tailed Deer Basic Infomation

Property | Value |
---|---|
Scientific Name | Odocoileus virginianus |
Taxonomic Status | SPECIES |
Rank | SPECIES |
Vernacular Names | White-tailed Deer |
Kingdom | Animalia |
Phylum | Chordata |
Class | Mammalia |
Order | Artiodactyla |
Family | Cervidae |
Genus | Odocoileus |
Habitats | Forests, grasslands, and wetlands of North America, Central America, and northern South America |
Descriptions | The white-tailed deer is a highly adaptable deer widely distributed throughout North America. |
Conservation Status | Least Concern |

Size
They are about 1.5 to 2 meters in body length and about 0.8 to 1 meter tall at the shoulder. They typically weigh 50 to 140 kilograms, with males being larger than females.
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Lifespan
About 6 to 14 years in the wild.
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Distribution
They are widely distributed from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico, Central America, and even into northern South America. They are adaptable to a wide variety of environments, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands.
White-tailed Deer Q&A

What is the origin of the name 'white-tailed deer'?
The name comes from the white underside of their tails. When they sense danger, they raise their white tails high to alert their companions.
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What do white-tailed deer eat?
White-tailed deer are herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants, including grasses, leaves, buds, fruits, and grains. Surprisingly, they can even eat mushrooms and toxic plants! During the winter, they dig through the snow to find grass and roots, or eat twigs and bark to survive the harsh conditions.
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Where do they live?
White-tailed deer can live in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands. In forests, they rest in the shade of trees or in thickets, and drink water at the water's edge. In meadows, they graze on grass and bask in the sun.
They are highly adaptable and can be found near human settlements. They sometimes even appear in parks, golf courses, and backyards!

[Quiz!] What kind of antlers do male white-tailed deer have?
Male white-tailed deer have impressive branching antlers. These antlers are shed every winter and regrow in the spring. The size of the antlers varies depending on the deer's age and health, and males with larger antlers tend to be more attractive to females!

[Quiz!] What kind of pattern do white-tailed deer fawns have?
White-tailed deer fawns are born with white spots. These spots help them camouflage in the forest. The spots disappear after a few months, and their coat color becomes similar to that of adult deer.
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[Quiz!] Why are white-tailed deer protected to prevent their population from declining?
White-tailed deer were once threatened with extinction due to overhunting. However, as a result of conservation efforts, their numbers have recovered. Efforts to protect white-tailed deer continue today, including hunting regulations and habitat conservation.

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White-tailed Deer Type of List

White-tailed Deer Ecology
- Live in herds
- Males compete for females during the breeding season
- Herbivorous
- Eat different foods depending on the season
- Crepuscular
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White-tailed Deer References
White-tailed Deer Introduction of media used

USDA photo by Scott Bauer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
_female_with_fawns_Orange_Walk.webp?alt=media)
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
_male_with_cattle_egret_Orange_Walk.webp?alt=media)
Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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