Rural Perspectives: The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

White-tailed deer prefer habitats that are a mix of
woodlands and grasslands. Photo credit Diane Constable

by Diane Constable

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is one of our largest mammals — and the official mammal of the state of Michigan.

These herbivores prefer habitats that are a mix of woodlands and grasslands. Deer have a varied diet — eating at least 600 types of plants. In warmer weather, they prefer broad-leaved plants (including crops) found in fields, tree leaves, some grasses, and even lichen and mushrooms. In the autumn, their tastes turn to acorns, seeds and fruits. Winter finds them getting by on leaf and evergreen buds, twigs and bark.

Like cows, deer are cud chewers and have four stomachs to accommodate the eight or so pounds of food they eat daily. Their eyes are constructed in a way that allows them to see better at night than during the day. Their ears can pivot 180 degrees. When threatened, their tails twitch and flip up as a “white flag” of warning to others. White-tailed deer rarely travel more than a mile or so from where they are born.

Does have one or two fawns in the spring. Fawns can walk within an hour, and within five days they can outrun a human. They will lie still and hide until they are about four weeks old and then will tag along with their mother. The male fawns stay with the doe for about a year, the females for nearly two years. The average life span is four to five years, but up to 20 years in captivity.

Fun Fact: White-tailed deer can easily jump 8 feet high, jump 20 feet long, run steadily at 25 mph and sprint up to 40 mph. With strides of up to 25 feet, white-tailed deer can rival the stride of the top race horses.

Diane Gray Constable