White Tailed Deer
The White TaIled Deer is a large mammal found in abundant numbers throughout most of the United States, Central America and South America. It’s name derives from the long white hair that grows on the underside of its tail and backside. While the White Tailed Deer’s size varies great depending on its location, it’s external appearance remains nearly the same. It’s body and antlers are largest in colder climates and smaller in more tropical regions. Males can weigh as little as 50 pounds and grow to 400 pounds in more northern regions.
All males grow antlers which they shed annually, and the size of the rack typically becomes larger with age. White Tailed Deer are primarily herbivores, but have been occasionally known to eat small rodents and birds. They are voracious eaters, and due to their large populations, they can easily disrupt forest ecosystems as well as farms and gardens by eating everything in sight. They have a multi-chambered stomach which allows them to digest many types of vegetation that are not edible by other animals.
Deer are often the food source for many larger predators such as wolves, bears, coyotes, bobcats and alligators. In addition, humans hunt them in large numbers for food and sport, as well culling them in order to curb habitat destruction and control disease, primarily tick borne illnesses. Though beautiful and important for a healthy ecosystem, the White Tailed Deer’s co-existence with the human race is a problematic one in many cases.
All males grow antlers which they shed annually, and the size of the rack typically becomes larger with age. White Tailed Deer are primarily herbivores, but have been occasionally known to eat small rodents and birds. They are voracious eaters, and due to their large populations, they can easily disrupt forest ecosystems as well as farms and gardens by eating everything in sight. They have a multi-chambered stomach which allows them to digest many types of vegetation that are not edible by other animals.
Deer are often the food source for many larger predators such as wolves, bears, coyotes, bobcats and alligators. In addition, humans hunt them in large numbers for food and sport, as well culling them in order to curb habitat destruction and control disease, primarily tick borne illnesses. Though beautiful and important for a healthy ecosystem, the White Tailed Deer’s co-existence with the human race is a problematic one in many cases.