# White-tailed Deer (*Odocoileus virginianus*) White-tailed deer are graceful animals with reddish-brown fur in summer and grayish fur in winter. They get their name from the white underside of their tail. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 1,299 - **Habitat:** Forests, fields, and meadows. - **Also known as:** Eastern Deer ![White-tailed Deer](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425726/objects/4384.jpg) ## Appearance The White-tailed Deer has reddish-brown fur in summer, turning grayish-brown in winter. Its most distinctive feature is the white underside of its tail, which it flags high when startled. They possess large ears and slender legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Artiodactyla - **Family:** Cervidae - **Genus:** Odocoileus ## Interesting facts - A fawn's spots help it blend perfectly into dappled sunlight. - Deer have four-chambered stomachs to digest tough plant materials. - Newborn fawns can stand and walk within hours of birth! - Their eyes are on the sides of their head for a super-wide view. ## Special abilities - **Tail Signal:** White-tailed Deer can flash their bright white tail because it warns other deer of danger, helping them escape predators. - **Super Sniffer:** White-tailed Deer has an amazing sense of smell that helps them find hidden food and detect predators from afar. - **Silent Stalker:** White-tailed Deer can move almost silently through forests because their hooves are designed for stealthy movement. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-200 cm - **Weight:** 50-130 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-14 years - **Speed:** 70 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 195-205 days ## Diet & Feeding They are herbivores that munch on many different plants, from leaves to nuts and berries. - **Age differences:** Young fawns drink milk, then slowly transition to a plant-based diet like adults. - **Primary Foods:** Leaves, Twigs, Acorns, Mushrooms, Berries, Grasses - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Coyotes often prey on fawns and sick or weak deer. - **Eaten by:** [Cougar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cougar) (*Puma concolor*) — Cougars are major predators of adult White-tailed Deer. - **Eats:** [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) — Deer commonly feed on the acorns and leaves from oak trees. - **Parasitizes:** Blacklegged Tick (*Ixodes scapularis*) — Ticks feed on deer blood and can transmit diseases. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Antlered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/antlered): Antlered describes animals possessing antlers, which are bony, branching growths found predominantly on male deer and related species. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Keep your distance — deer can kick if startled. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify White-tailed Deer? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is White-tailed Deer? 150-200 cm ### How much does White-tailed Deer weigh? 50-130 kg ### How long does White-tailed Deer live? 6-14 years ### How fast can White-tailed Deer move? 70 km/h ### What does White-tailed Deer eat? They are herbivores that munch on many different plants, from leaves to nuts and berries. ### Where is White-tailed Deer usually found? Forests, fields, and meadows. ### How does White-tailed Deer hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Alabama City Wall Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alabama-city-wall-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Americus Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/americus-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Arnold Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arnold-arboretum) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/white-tailed-deer) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [White-tailed Deer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer)