Public domain · USDA photo by Scott Bauer · source
Quick Facts
- Type
- Mammal
- Size
- 150–200 cm body length
- Weight
- 40–130 kg
- Habitat
- Forest edges, woodland, farmland, and suburban areas
- Diet
- Herbivore — browse, twigs, acorns, and grasses
- Active Time
- Crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk
- Lifespan
- 6–14 years in the wild
Field Notes
- White-tailed deer can run at 48 km/h and leap fences up to 2.4 m tall with ease.
- Fawns lose their white spots by three to four months of age as they transition to the adult coat.
About the White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer is the most abundant large wild mammal in North America, estimated at 30 million individuals. When alarmed, it raises its white tail like a flag — a signal that warns nearby deer and may startle predators long enough to escape. Does give birth to spotted fawns that are virtually odourless for the first weeks of life, helping them hide from predators. Bucks grow a new set of antlers each year, shedding the velvet in late summer, and engage in sparring during the autumn rut.
Keep exploring
Related animals
Red Fox
Capybara
Malayan Tapir
African Bush Elephant
Bengal Tiger
Giant Panda
Sunda Pangolin
Narwhal
Giraffe
Sea Otter
Red Panda
European Hedgehog
Or spin for another random animal on the explorer, or browse all species in the full directory.