The White-Tailed Deer

Habitat and Adaptation

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White-tail population in the U.S.

 

Icwdm.org

Whitetail deer usually inhabit hardwood forests, forest edges. They tend to live in the interior of the thick woods during the winter months in the northern parts they inhabit, as use for shelter. They are found as far north as Canada and stretch as far south into Mexico . They are absent for the most part in the drier regions of the west, however when present they inhabit mountainous ranges and stream bottoms. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources estimates a local herd of around 4.5 million and a national herd around 29-31 million.

Deer are territorial and usually have a home range of one square mile. Bucks (male deer) will generally travel well outside this range during the mating season, which in known as the rut. Normally, when food conditions are adequate, the deer tend to stay in one area for longer periods of time.

 

White tail deer are highly adaptable. They are grazers and the deciduous vegetation of Wisconsin 's forests offer many options to satisfy hunger. White-tails have adapted to dry subtropical climates of the west coast and Mexico . They've adapted to the transitional humid summers to the cold winters in the Midwest . However, population growth and deforestation can herd deer into smaller and smaller areas. Hunting of America 's number game animal helps deter winter starvation in the North and overpopulation throughout the country. White-tails are most active during the night time. Humans create more obstacles for the deer during the night with motor vehicles; tens of thousands are killed alone on Wisconsin 's roadways. Deer are very fast moving, can run up to 30 miles/hr agile animals that can jump upwards of 6 feet they are also great swimmers.