Deer Facts
North American Deer Facts
The deer facts presented here focus on two species, the Mule deer and the White-tailed deer, which account for the vast majority of deer found in the United States and Canada. For the record, the American Moose is also a member of the same deer subfamily as the Mule deer and the White-tailed deer. The Black-tailed deer, also distributed over a wide area, is a subspecies of the Mule deer.
One of the more prominent characteristic of the Mule deer or Muley, as it is also called, is its large ears, which somewhat resemble the ears of a mule. The Mule deer is found throughout the western part of the United States and Canada. It is quite adaptable to its choice of habitat, but prefers more arid and wide open terrain, and is mostly at home in the American southwest. Unlike the bushy tail of the White-tailed deer, the Mule deer has a thinner white tail, with a black tip. The Black-tailed deer, a subspecies of the Mule deer, has a tail that is all black, and its preferred habitat is similar to that of the Mule deer. Mule deer are often hunted for trophy sized antlers. Because of their preference for open but rugged terrain, hunting the Mule deer is usually not the easiest of tasks.
Researching and compiling a list of White-tailed deer facts is much easier than for the Muley, as the White-tailed deer is found in almost every part of North America, with the exception of the hotter and more arid parts of the southwest. The size and coloring of this deer can vary, depending upon its particular habitat. One thing that does not change, and is the defining characteristic of the White-tailed deer, is its bushy white tail. When in flight, the tail will be raised like a white flag. It is highly visible, and serves as a warning to other deer. One can see the white tail bounding up and down for a considerable distance as the deer runs away.
Any list of important deer facts would have to include the damage caused by these animals in many parts of the country. The White-tailed deer has become somewhat of a nuisance in many areas, especially as land has been cleared, and its predators have decreased in number. The deer appears to prefer living in wooded areas, next to more open areas, such as farms and even communities. They can become a nuisance in gardens and orchards, and a real danger on the highways. Some locales have put deer reduction programs in place, with controlled hunting programs, and allowing farmers to kill the animals when caught destroying their crops.
For both species, males (bucks) and females (does) tend to stay apart in separate herds, except for breeding. Baby deer (fawns) are often born as twins, and are kept in sheltered surroundings the first weeks of their lives. An interesting fact about fawns is that they have no smell that can be detected by potential predators. Nuisance or not as adults, young fawns are always a beautiful sight to behold.