Wildlife Part 2 - Whitetail Deer
Happy weekend everyone. The learning, the adventure, and the stories continue. Today I would like to talk about Whitetail Deer. Whitetail Deer are some of the most distributed and most numerous of the large animals that live in North America. These species of deer are found in the prairie, parkland, and southern boreal zones in Alberta and their range is expanding westward into the foothills, mountains, and northward further into the boreal zone. If you believe that Whitetail Deer could only be found in Alberta, I am sorry to disappoint you. The mapped area of where you can spot Whitetail Deer is:
Alberta is one of the areas that we have already touched on where you can spot Whitetail Deer.
Eastern Canada - Northern white-tailed deer live from the Ontario-Manitoba border eastward to Cape Breton.
Southeastern British Columbia - Tawny northwestern white-tailed deer live in this region, and occasionally stray into Alberta.
United States of America:
Texas has the largest population of Whitetailed Deer in the United States.
Most of the mainland - Most of the mainland: White-tailed deer live in most of the mainland United States, except for the Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii.
White-tailed deer are the most common deer species in North America and are highly adaptable. They can survive in a variety of habitats, from the boreal forest to tropical rainforests.
Title: Watch The Sunset
Photographer: Paige Brenneis - Lost For Photography
Facts About Whitetails
I always found the Whitetail Deer to be stunning, elegant, and down right beautiful. These fuzzy, shy, and adorable, whitetail deer are among the most abundant creatures in North America’s woodlands. Adults are characterized by their reddish-brown coats, which fade to a greyer brown from summer to winter. They have excellent eyesight and hearing, and are even good enough swimmers to escape predators by crossing rivers with relative ease. From how they got their name to the story behind their booming population in the United States, explore these 15 wonderful facts about white-tailed deer.
https://www.treehugger.com/white-tailed-deer-facts-5179585
White-Tailed Deer Are Found in Central and North America
Even though they are native to North America, white-tailed deer have extended their range through Central America to Bolivia. Still, the vast majority live in southern Canada and throughout the mainland United States. They prefer open woodland but can also be found on the outskirts of developed urban areas and even near agricultural lands and cactus-filled deserts. An ideal habitat for a white-tailed deer consists of dense thickets of shrubs in which to hide and feed.
They Are the Most Common Deer Species in North America
The IUCN estimates the population of white-tailed deer in the United States to number over 11 million, and about a third live in the state of Texas. The white-tailed deer range has pushed farther up into Canada due to habitat loss, and there are believed to be half a million of them there already. Numbers in North America are stable and abundant, but in Mexico, Central America, and South America, most populations are declining.
Only Some Individuals Migrate
Experts believe that populations of white-tailed deer who live in low-quality home ranges are more likely to migrate to different locations in the summer. In contrast, those who are lucky enough to live in regions with better weather and more food abundance typically stay put throughout the year. Researchers studying white-tailed deer in Washington state have found that, surprisingly, survival rates for both migrating and non-migrating groups are nearly identical. In fact, annual survival rates for migrating deer were slightly higher, at 0.85 compared to non-migratory individuals at 0.84.
White-Tailed Deer Grazing Can Influence the Ecosystem
Since white-tailed deer are so abundant, their grazing can significantly affect the composition of plants within their habitats. Throughout the northern United States, tree seedling abundance decreases when white-tailed deer density grows above 5.8 individuals per square kilometer (0.38 square miles) in most forests. Introduced or non-native plant species, however, increase in areas with higher deer density. As ruminant animals, they typically feed on what’s most available to them, their four-chambered stomachs allowing them to digest anything from leaves, twigs, moss, and even fungi. They also consume the buds of maple trees, poplar trees, birch trees, and shrubs, switching to hardier plants and conifers in the winter when food becomes scarce.
They Often Live Alone
One would think that such a populous species would prefer to live in large groups, but the white-tailed deer is generally a solitary creature. They tend to live alone, especially during the summer months, and males and females only interact during mating season. Most of the time, if you see multiple deer together, it is either a female (called a "doe") and her babies (called "fawns") or a small group of young adult males (called "bucks").
Disney’s Bambi Was Modelled After A White-tail Deer
If you have noticed in the movie Bambi, that when Bambi is young, he has spots all over him. This is because the off-spring while they are young, have spots on them which eventually will disappear as they continue to grow.
They Live Three Times Longer in Captivity Than in the Wild
Most wild white-tailed deer live to about two or three years old, and most adults don’t make it past 10. On the other hand, deer held in captivity can live up to three times longer than their wild counterparts, something scientists believe has to do specifically with the difference in diet. Not only do captive white-tailed deer deal with significantly less stress because they aren’t required to find their own food, but studies have found that their diets contain more protein and less carbon.
Only Bucks Grow Antlers
You would think that in all deer species, that the males are the only ones that grow antlers. This is not at all true. In fact Reindeer, also known as Caribou, are the only species in the deer family that both males and females grow antlers. The rest of the deer family, only the males will then grow antlers. With Whitetail Deer, the males grow their antlers after just being a few months old. These antlers are made out of combination of bone and keratin (the same material that makes up human hair and fingernails). These antlers are used to attract the females and to spar against other males to assert dominance. It has been well-documented that both body size and antler size are positively associated with annual breeding success among males, and older males with larger antlers are more likely to breed than those with smaller ones. Males shed their antlers every year, a completely natural process caused by a drop in testosterone after the end of mating season.
Whitetail Deer Are Important Prey Animals For Larger Predators
Whitetails are a crucial diet for wolves, mountain lions, bears, jaguars, and even coyotes. Although, their largest predator is the human kind during hunting season. This predator-prey relationship is especially important to the local food chain as it can leave more room for the survival of stronger, healthier animals, and also helps control the spread of disease by population control.
They Are The Smallest of The North America Deer Species
With an average height between 31 and 39 inches at the shoulders, white-tailed deer are smaller than other North American species. While white-tailed deer and mule deer are the only species native to the United States, there are also caribou, moose (the largest member of the deer family), brocket deer, and elk that now call North America home.
They Can Weigh Up To 300 Pounds
Despite being the smallest of the North American deer, white-tailed deer can still hold their own in terms of weight. A mature buck may weigh anywhere from 200 to 300 pounds, while females show much more variety in size, averaging 90 to 200 pounds.
They Are Named For Their White Tails
True to its name, the white-tailed deer has a white tail, though only on the underside; the top of its tail maintains the same light brown color as the rest of its body. When a white-tailed deer is alarmed or senses danger, it flips its tail up to display the white underside in a motion called “flagging.” Apart from being white on the bottom, their tails are also larger and broader than other deer species.
Title: Oh Deer
Photographer: Paige Brenneis - Lost For Photography
Whitetail Deer is by far probably the most common animal that I photograph. This is cause I camp in the boreal forest every summer and they are by far the most commonly seen wildlife that I come across. That is if you count Seagulls to be the other common type of wildlife which I will talk about another day. For now, I shall wrap this up with a short story.
There was a time when I was on one of my getting lost road trips on the backroads of Alberta. I was out by Calahoo, Alberta with my sister when we saw a little cluster of deer. We turn down the road and come to a stop as we try to get some pictures of the elegant deer. To our surprise, the deer did not run which gave use the impression that they are much used to being around humans. Now deer is probably one of the most least aggressive type of wildlife you may ever come across, being shy and normally bolting the other direction from humans. Their hooves are sharp though if they do decide to attack which is reason why we stayed in the car, shooting from out out side windows when the deer then turned and began to charge at us. I did not dare move the car in fear of even hitting one of them. Instead we stood our ground and watched with astonished amazement as the deer swerved around the car, running by just perhaps inches away from our doors. If we dared put our hands out, we would have brushed along their furry fuzzy sides. This is an experience I would never forget. With that, I will share one of my favorites of the Whitetail Deer. With that, I bid you all farewell until next week.
Tschüss!
Title: Doe A Deer
Photographer: Paige Brenneis - Lost For Photography