WHITE TAILED DEER

Description: The first part of the common name refers to the 6-11 inches, bushy tail which the animal erects when disturbed, displaying the white hairs of the outer edge and under surface. Long, slender legs - each bearing two narrow, pointed hooves that support the weight - prominent ears, and in males, bony antlers (developed annually from pedicals of frontal bones in April-May and usually shed by February) are other characteristics.

Scientists believe that white tailed deer used to live in the bitter cold regions of the arctic circle. It wasn't until about 4 million years ago when they came to the United States.

Habitats

Spring-As the snow melts, deer move out of winter cover into edges and open areas to feed on green growth. To recover from winter stress, deer need protein-rich, easily digestible green food. Deer commonly appear on roadsides, forest openings, and in fields during the spring, where the first green vegetation is available

Summer-During the summer months, good nutrition is important as young deer grow, adult does produce milk, and bucks grow antlers. Summer is the season of plenty as deer feed on grasses, buds, blossoms, and leaves of a variety of green herbs, shrubs and trees. Plants selected include asters, clovers, alfalfa, sumac, goldenrod, bush honeysuckle, jewelweed and various shrub and tree leaves. Preferred food plants are found along forest edges and in open growing deciduous and coniferous forests. In late August, deer begin to store energy and fat, and velvet is shed from buck’s antlers.

Fall-Deer continue to feed heavily as they build up fat reserves and store energy in preparation for the breeding season and stressful winter period that follows. The availability of nutritious foods in fall determines how much fat the deer can store for the coming winter. By late October, bucks are in the rut, sparring with small trees and other bucks. They also paw “scrapes” on the ground to declare dominant buck territory and advertise their presence to does for breeding in November. As vegetation goes dormant and “browns out,” deer seek out green vegetation in open areas. They are often observed in fields and roadsides during this period feeding on herbs and grasses.

Winter-Deep snow winters of 100 or more days can cause hardship for deer. Gradual reduction in daylight hours triggers changes in the deer’s metabolism and coincides with lower availability of green and growing food sources. They enter a period of semi-fasting that results in lower food needs. Whitetails are adapted to using dormant vegetation and buds of a variety of shrubs and young trees during the winter period. White-tailed deer behavior and winter habitat use is variable from year to year depending on the date that significant snowfalls begin, accumulated snow depth, and the length of the deep snow period.

FOOD SOURCE

• Spring-easily digestible green foods.
• Summer-grasses, buds, and leaves of a variety of green herbs, shrubs and trees.
• Fall-The amount of nutritious foods in fall determines how much fat the deer can store for winter
• Winter-they still eat buds, blossoms, and just small trees. There is not a lot of it though.

HUMAN MANAGMENT

Bonus fact*
A baby white tailed deer is called a fawn.