White-tailed Deer
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae Genus: Odocoileus
Species: Odocoileus virginianus
The White-tailed deer is a common yet shy mammal that is known, as the name suggests, for its large, white tail which it flashes when fleeing from danger. It can survive in a variety of different habitats, and it can be found roaming neighborhoods or forests alone or in groups. The offspring of the White-tailed deer, known as a fawn, has a spotted white coat which helps it camouflage from predators. It must rely on this camouflage regularly because mothers leave their fawns alone for hours at a time while they search for food. A female generally has a single fawn during her first year of breeding, but she can have up to 4 at a time in her later years. The competition between males over females is intense. They battle each other with long antlers that they regrow every year in time for the breeding season. The White-tailed Deer is usually solitary, but sometimes males come together in groups, and females can be seen with multiple fawns.
Conservation status: Least concern
Description: Grey-brown coat during the winter and red-brown coat during the summer; long tail with a white underside
Length: 63-87 in long; 20-47 in tall at the shoulder
Weight: 126-302 lb
Diet: Vegetation such as buds, twigs, cacti, and acorns
Habitat: Many different habitats such as deserts, forests, swamps, and grasslands
Credit source: Animal Diversity Web
