WHITETAIL DEER

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WHITETAIL DEER
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DESCRIPTION

• 3-3 1/2 feet tall
• weight 150 lbs (largest buck was 425lbs)

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• color shading changes twice a year
• spring - new coat is bright reddish brown
• fall/winter - hair is blueish to grayish-brown

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• albinism - genetic change that prevents pigments
  from forming in body
• hair is white, eyes pink, hooves gray

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• Albinism (cont.)
• - more common is partial albinos
• - usually have hearing deficiency
• - normal deer avoid them

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• walk on toenails, not toes, which allows them to
  move fast on well packed earth
• have 32 teeth

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• 4 glands
• interdigital gland - between hooves
• metatarsal gland - between hooves and heel on
  hind leg
• tarsal gland - inside leg on hock
• lachrymal gland- front of eye

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• ruminants 4 compartment stomach

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DISTRIBUTION

• found everywhere in WI
• from middle Canada to southern US

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TRAVEL

• tend to move only in a 1 sq mile area
• do not migrate - will starve to death, refuse to
  leave home range

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HABITS

• buck lives separate from doe/offspring except
  during rut
• usually start to feed at 430pm till 7am

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• creatures of habit - if not bothered will follow
  same routine, trails, etc. - will shift pattern
  due to weather and food availability

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• require 10-12 lbs of food to satisfy needs
• herbivores
• startled deer will run to nearest cover, then
  stop to see if followed

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BREEDING

• bucks lose antlers in december/jan.
• does estrus cycle is in Oct. -heat period of 30
  hours come into heat every 28 days

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BIRTH AND YOUNG

• gestation period is 200-210 days
• fawns born late May or June

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• fawns weigh 4 1/2 to 8 lbs at birth
• does leave fawns and come back to nurse 5-8
  times/day
• at 3-4 weeks fawn will go with doe

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LIFE SPAN

• life span of 8-11 year
• most bucks killed before 5 yrs
• does fertility decreases after age 9

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SENSES

• smell - greatest sense
• hearing - flicker ears to get sound
• sight - quick to notice slight movements

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COMMUNICATION

• fawn - bleats like a lamb
• older deer sound like hoarse raspy sheep

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• stamp feet when nervous which causes vibrations
  in ground
• signal danger by flashing white hair on rump

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LOCOMOTION

• top speed is about 40 mph
• can clear up to 8 feet from standing position

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• can jump 28 ft in length
• will seek water if they cant out run predator -
  good swimmers

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ENEMIES

• original predators - mountain lion and wolf
• today - man and dogs

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• parasites
• external lice, fleas, mosquitoes, wood ticks
• internal lungworms, footworms, liver flukes, and
  tapeworms

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