The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States (all but five of the states), Canada, Mexico, Central America, and in South America as far south as Peru. It has also been introduced to New Zealand and some countries in Europe, such as Finland and the Czech Republic. The species is most common east of the Rocky Mountains, and is absent from much of the western United States, including Nevada, Utah, California, Hawaii, and Alaska (though its close relatives, the mule deer and black-tailed deer Odocoileus hemionus, can be found there).
Ten Facts about White-tailed Deer
- Being very good sprinters, white-tailed deers can clock a speed of 30 miles per hour and leap to a distance of 30 feet. These animals can swim at a speed of 13 miles per hour.
- A male white-tailed deer may weigh between 150 to 300 pounds, whereas the female species weigh about 100 to 200 pounds.
- The life span of this animal ranges from 6 to 14 years but on an average, it lives for about 11 years.
- White-tailed deer communicates by making different sounds, through scents and body language. They 'snort' to alert the herd, while fawns 'bleat' to call their mother.
- Mating of white-tailed deer takes place between October and December, which is followed by a gestation period of 7 months.
- The doe gives birth to 1 or 2 fawns by June.
- They start walking at birth, and are completely weaned by the completion of six weeks of age.
- Basically herbivores in nature, these animals can eat anything ranging from leaves and shrubs to shoots and cactus. It feeds on green leaves in summer but has to satiate its hunger with nuts and twigs in winter.
- Some bacteria present in its stomach change according to its dietary habit, thus making it easier for the white-tailed deer to eat and digest food.
- The predators of a white-tailed deer include Gray wolves, cougars, Bobcats, coyotes and bears. Scavengers like vultures, hawks, eagles and foxes.
