Whitetail Deer

Ruminant Cervidae

Whitetail Deer are the most common deer, distributed throughout all the Americas. Despite widespread hunting, deer populations have flourished in the East and perhaps not as much in the West.

Whitetail Deer have long been a source of food to Native and modern populations. In the United States and Canada, venison is considered a delicacy.

Bucks (males) have antlers of varied size and points depending on age and nutrition and over-all health. The antlers are used as weapons against other males during breeding season, and for defense against predators, and attracting females.

The white fur on the underside of the tail and rump, hence the name Whitetail, is raised as a signal to other deer when the presence of danger is near and most often visible when the deer flee.

Being Herbivores, the deer eat a wide variety of plants, moss, tree leaves and bark.