Whitetail Deer Study

Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:17:54 GMT

We will be conducting a year-long study of deer. Below are the results of our study and observations. Please add any comments you have regarding the study, especially if you have facts, observations or deer stories. We will categorize our studies under six headings. They are: Life traits, Habitat, Diet, Behavior, Human Perceptions and Observations and Anecdotes. We will edit this blog with new information as we go along through the year. Our sources will be Field Guides, Wildlife Texts and Magazines, respected internet sources, other people as well as our own observations of deer here at Crann Mor. We hope you enjoy the study.

Life Traits

Bucks may weigh up to 400 lbs and stand 4 feet tall at the shoulder.

Does may weigh up to 250 lbs and stand 3 feet tall at the shoulder.

Mating takes place in Autumn and Winter. One to three (normally two) fawn will be born in Spring or Summer.

Fawns are able to stand and nurse within minutes of being born.

Fawns are born with virtually no scent which is a defense mechanism to help them avoid the detection of predators such as coyotes.

Fawns are weaned at about 2 1/2 months but will stay with their mother for 1-2 years.

Fawns lose their spots at about 3 months of age.

An average deer track is about 2 1/2 inches long. The track is a two part hoof print which is rounded in the rear and narrow in the front.

Deer coats are reddish in summer and grayish in winter.

Bucks grow new antlers every year beginning in early spring to late summer.

The antlers have a velvet covering which will slough off before winter. Deer often scrape their antlers on trees and brush to accelerate the process.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease

Deer are susceptible to this virus which is carried by gnats and transmitted to the deer when the gnat bites them. In 2007, it has been estimated that 3,000 deer in Kentucky have died from this disease in Aug & Sep. This is not considered to be a major impact on the Kentucky population of deer which is currently estimated at 1 million deer. The virus cannot be spread from the carcas of a deer and the disease should stop spreading when the hard freezes begin. The hard freezes will kill the gnats.

Habitat

Deer live in a wide variety of habitats - open fields, pastures, open woodlands and dense forests.

They are an estimated 15 million whitetail deer in the U.S. This does not include Canada, Mexico and Central America where whitetail deer are also abundant.

Diet

Deer are vegetarians enjoying a diet which includes twigs, leaves, grasses, berries, acorn, fungi and beech nuts.

An important food for deer are the berries of the Greenbrier plant.

Deer will chew and eat thorn laden plants especially when there is a food shortage.

Deer will also feed on Sumac.

Deer like fruits.

Deer can eat small amounts of toxic plants which their bodies de-toxify or eliminate.

Deer like garden vegetables.

Behavior

Bucks and does will stay in separate herds for most of the year.

They remain active in Winter and will gather in "deer yards" occasionally.

Fawns will lie on the ground as if frozen as a defense mechanism.

Human Perceptions

Observations & Anecdotes

Fawns will bleat "Maaaaaaaa" loudly if you pick them up when you think they have been orphaned. Momma will respond quickly.

Crann Mor Feirm: Nature Studies

Whitetail Deer Study