Mammals
White-Tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus · also called white-tailed deer, whitetail
Bolting through a suburban backyard at the edge of a forest, a white-tailed deer flashes the bright white underside of its raised tail, a visible alarm signal to any other deer nearby as it disappears into the trees, one of the most numerous large mammals now found across North America.
Overview
The white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, is a highly adaptable herbivore native to forest and grassland edge habitat across an extensive range spanning southern Canada through the United States and into Central and northern South America. Its distinctive white tail alarm signal, annually regrown antlers, and remarkable thriving alongside human development make it one of the most widespread and numerous large mammals found anywhere in the Americas.
A species that adapted its way to abundance
Once heavily reduced by historical hunting, the white-tailed deer has rebounded so successfully by adapting to farmland, suburbs, and forest edges alike that management in many regions today focuses on limiting overabundance rather than encouraging recovery.
Status
Least Concern and increasing, with populations in many areas now exceeding historical densities due to the loss of natural predators and abundant food from agriculture and suburban landscaping.
White-Tailed Deer: common questions
Why does the white-tailed deer raise its tail when startled?
This species raises its tail to display the bright white underside when alarmed, a highly visible signal that warns other nearby deer of potential danger and may also help a fawn keep visual track of its mother while fleeing through dense vegetation.
Do female white-tailed deer grow antlers too?
No, typically only a male of this species grows antlers, shedding the previous year's set after the breeding season and regrowing a new, usually larger set the following year, while females generally remain antlerless throughout their lives.
Why are white-tailed deer so much more numerous than they used to be?
This species has become extremely numerous across much of its range partly because of the loss of natural predators and the abundance of food available from agricultural crops and suburban landscaping, allowing populations in some areas to exceed historical densities from before European settlement.
Can white-tailed deer swim?
Yes, this species is a capable swimmer, sometimes crossing rivers or lakes to reach new habitat or escape a pursuing predator, an ability that adds to its overall adaptability across a wide range of landscapes.