White-tailed Deer. Classification Classification Characteristics Characteristics Antlers Antlers...
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Transcript of White-tailed Deer. Classification Classification Characteristics Characteristics Antlers Antlers...
White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer ClassificationClassification CharacteristicsCharacteristics AntlersAntlers Social OrganizationSocial Organization ReproductionReproduction Food HabitsFood Habits HabitatHabitat ManagementManagement
White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianusOdocoileus virginianus – underside of tail – underside of tail
is covered with white hairis covered with white hair Belong to family Belong to family CervidaeCervidae (includes elk, (includes elk,
moose, and caribou)moose, and caribou) Split hoofedSplit hoofed No incisor teeth in the front of the upper jawNo incisor teeth in the front of the upper jaw
White-tailed DeerWhite-tailed Deer Ruminant animalsRuminant animals
4-chambered stomach 4-chambered stomach chew a chew a “cud”“cud”
Males grow & shed a set of antlers yearlyMales grow & shed a set of antlers yearly 30 subspecies30 subspecies
In PA: northern woodland whitetailIn PA: northern woodland whitetail
CharacteristicsCharacteristics Average adult buckAverage adult buck::
140 pounds140 pounds Stands 32-34 inches at Stands 32-34 inches at
the shoulderthe shoulder 70 inches long from nose 70 inches long from nose
to tailto tail Does tend to be smaller Does tend to be smaller
than bucksthan bucks
CharacteristicsCharacteristics Fawns born with Fawns born with white spotswhite spots for for
camouflage camouflage (looks like sun hitting the (looks like sun hitting the ground)ground)
Hair color alike in both sexesHair color alike in both sexes Varies with seasonsVaries with seasons
Melanistic: BlackMelanistic: Black Piebalds: partial albinosPiebalds: partial albinos
SensesSenses ColorblindColorblind Easily alerted by movementEasily alerted by movement Good senses of smell & hearingGood senses of smell & hearing Usually silentUsually silent
Antler GrowthAntler Growth 11stst set of antlers grows at 10 set of antlers grows at 10
months oldmonths old If the buck comes from an area If the buck comes from an area
with poor food conditions, first with poor food conditions, first antlers will be antlers will be “spikes”“spikes” (single, (single, main beams only)main beams only)
Growing antlers are covered by Growing antlers are covered by a skin called a skin called “velvet”“velvet”
Antler cycle is influenced by Antler cycle is influenced by secretions from the secretions from the pituitary gland
Social OrganizationSocial Organization
Matriarchal: doe is head of familyMatriarchal: doe is head of family Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling Most common: adult doe, her fawns & her yearling
female offspringfemale offspring
ReproductionReproduction
Mating season (rut) begins in September Mating season (rut) begins in September and can last into Januaryand can last into January Reaches its peak in early NovemberReaches its peak in early November
Age and health of a doe influence her Age and health of a doe influence her reproductive capacityreproductive capacity Adult females usually produce twinsAdult females usually produce twins Tendency for young females to produce more Tendency for young females to produce more
malesmales
Food HabitsFood Habits
HerbivoresHerbivores Preferences depend on availability in area and Preferences depend on availability in area and
time of yeartime of year
HabitatHabitat ForestForest
Provides Provides concealmentconcealment and and foodfood Brush is most efficiently created by Brush is most efficiently created by
clearcuttingclearcutting Cutting all trees larger than saplingsCutting all trees larger than saplings
HistoryHistory
Were used extensively by Native Americans Were used extensively by Native Americans for food and clothingfor food and clothing
Population brought to record low by late Population brought to record low by late 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, 1800’s due to extensive clearing of land, unregulated hunting, and loss of habitatunregulated hunting, and loss of habitat
Population has rebounded dramatically due to Population has rebounded dramatically due to changing land uses, strict game laws, and a changing land uses, strict game laws, and a lack of large natural predatorslack of large natural predators
ManagementManagement
OverpopulationOverpopulation Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for Strips the habitat of life-supporting qualities (for
many species)many species) Crop/landscaping damageCrop/landscaping damage Vehicle collisionsVehicle collisions
Controlled through harvesting female deerControlled through harvesting female deer