White-tailed Deer

Classification Classification Characteristics Characteristics Antlers Antlers Social Organization Social Organization Reproduction Reproduction Food Habits Food Habits Habitat Habitat Management Management

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus – underside of tail is covered with white hair Odocoileus virginianus – underside of tail is covered with white hair Belong to family Cervidae (includes elk, moose, and caribou) Belong to family Cervidae (includes elk, moose, and caribou) Split hoofed Split hoofed No incisor teeth in the front of the upper jaw No incisor teeth in the front of the upper jaw

White-tailed Deer Ruminant animals Ruminant animals 4-chambered stomach 4-chambered stomach chew a “cud” chew a “cud” Males grow & shed a set of antlers yearly Males grow & shed a set of antlers yearly 30 subspecies 30 subspecies In PA: northern woodland whitetail In PA: northern woodland whitetail

Characteristics Average adult buck: Average adult buck: 140 pounds 140 pounds Stands inches at the shoulder Stands inches at the shoulder 70 inches long from nose to tail 70 inches long from nose to tail Does tend to be smaller than bucks Does tend to be smaller than bucks

Characteristics Fawns born with white spots for camouflage (looks like sun hitting the ground) Fawns born with white spots for camouflage (looks like sun hitting the ground) Hair color alike in both sexes Hair color alike in both sexes Varies with seasons Varies with seasons Melanistic: Black Melanistic: Black Piebalds: partial albinos Piebalds: partial albinos

Senses Colorblind Colorblind Easily alerted by movement Easily alerted by movement Good senses of smell & hearing Good senses of smell & hearing Usually silent Usually silent

Antler Growth 1 st set of antlers grows at 10 months old 1 st set of antlers grows at 10 months old If the buck comes from an area with poor food conditions, first antlers will be “spikes” (single, main beams only) If the buck comes from an area with poor food conditions, first antlers will be “spikes” (single, main beams only) Growing antlers are covered by a skin called “velvet” Growing antlers are covered by a skin called “velvet” Antler cycle is influenced by secretions from the Antler cycle is influenced by secretions from the pituitary gland

Social Organization Matriarchal: doe is head of family Matriarchal: doe is head of family Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling female offspring Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling female offspring

Reproduction Mating season (rut) begins in September and can last into January Mating season (rut) begins in September and can last into January Reaches its peak in early November Reaches its peak in early November Age and health of a doe influence her reproductive capacity Age and health of a doe influence her reproductive capacity Adult females usually produce twins Adult females usually produce twins Tendency for young females to produce more males Tendency for young females to produce more males

Food Habits Herbivores Herbivores Preferences depend on availability in area and time of year Preferences depend on availability in area and time of year

Habitat Forest Forest Provides concealment and food Provides concealment and food Brush is most efficiently created by clearcutting Brush is most efficiently created by clearcutting Cutting all trees larger than saplings Cutting all trees larger than saplings

History Were used extensively by Native Americans for food and clothing Were used extensively by Native Americans for food and clothing Population brought to record low by late 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, unregulated hunting, and loss of habitat Population brought to record low by late 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, unregulated hunting, and loss of habitat Population has rebounded dramatically due to changing land uses, strict game laws, and a lack of large natural predators Population has rebounded dramatically due to changing land uses, strict game laws, and a lack of large natural predators

Management Overpopulation Overpopulation Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for many species) Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for many species) Crop/landscaping damage Crop/landscaping damage Vehicle collisions Vehicle collisions Controlled through harvesting female deer Controlled through harvesting female deer