White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer

White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer ClassificationClassification CharacteristicsCharacteristics AntlersAntlers Social OrganizationSocial Organization ReproductionReproduction Food HabitsFood Habits HabitatHabitat ManagementManagement

White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianusOdocoileus virginianus – underside of tail – underside of tail

is covered with white hairis covered with white hair Belong to family Belong to family CervidaeCervidae (includes elk, (includes elk,

moose, and caribou)moose, and caribou) Split hoofedSplit hoofed No incisor teeth in the front of the upper jawNo incisor teeth in the front of the upper jaw

White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer Ruminant animalsRuminant animals

4-chambered stomach 4-chambered stomach chew a chew a “cud”“cud”

Males grow & shed a set of antlers yearlyMales grow & shed a set of antlers yearly 30 subspecies30 subspecies

In PA: northern woodland whitetailIn PA: northern woodland whitetail

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Average adult buckAverage adult buck::

140 pounds140 pounds Stands 32-34 inches at Stands 32-34 inches at

the shoulderthe shoulder 70 inches long from nose 70 inches long from nose

to tailto tail Does tend to be smaller Does tend to be smaller

than bucksthan bucks

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Fawns born with Fawns born with white spotswhite spots for for

camouflage camouflage (looks like sun hitting the (looks like sun hitting the ground)ground)

Hair color alike in both sexesHair color alike in both sexes Varies with seasonsVaries with seasons

Melanistic: BlackMelanistic: Black Piebalds: partial albinosPiebalds: partial albinos

SensesSenses ColorblindColorblind Easily alerted by movementEasily alerted by movement Good senses of smell & hearingGood senses of smell & hearing Usually silentUsually silent

Antler GrowthAntler Growth 11stst set of antlers grows at 10 set of antlers grows at 10

months oldmonths old If the buck comes from an area If the buck comes from an area

with poor food conditions, first with poor food conditions, first antlers will be antlers will be “spikes”“spikes” (single, (single, main beams only)main beams only)

Growing antlers are covered by Growing antlers are covered by a skin called a skin called “velvet”“velvet”

Antler cycle is influenced by Antler cycle is influenced by secretions from the secretions from the pituitary gland

Social OrganizationSocial Organization

Matriarchal: doe is head of familyMatriarchal: doe is head of family Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling

female offspringfemale offspring

ReproductionReproduction

Mating season (rut) begins in September Mating season (rut) begins in September and can last into Januaryand can last into January Reaches its peak in early NovemberReaches its peak in early November

Age and health of a doe influence her Age and health of a doe influence her reproductive capacityreproductive capacity Adult females usually produce twinsAdult females usually produce twins Tendency for young females to produce more Tendency for young females to produce more

malesmales

Food HabitsFood Habits

HerbivoresHerbivores Preferences depend on availability in area and Preferences depend on availability in area and

time of yeartime of year

HabitatHabitat ForestForest

Provides Provides concealmentconcealment and and foodfood Brush is most efficiently created by Brush is most efficiently created by

clearcuttingclearcutting Cutting all trees larger than saplingsCutting all trees larger than saplings

HistoryHistory

Were used extensively by Native Americans Were used extensively by Native Americans for food and clothingfor food and clothing

Population brought to record low by late Population brought to record low by late 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, unregulated hunting, and loss of habitatunregulated hunting, and loss of habitat

Population has rebounded dramatically due to Population has rebounded dramatically due to changing land uses, strict game laws, and a changing land uses, strict game laws, and a lack of large natural predatorslack of large natural predators

ManagementManagement

OverpopulationOverpopulation Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for

many species)many species) Crop/landscaping damageCrop/landscaping damage Vehicle collisionsVehicle collisions

Controlled through harvesting female deerControlled through harvesting female deer