White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

White-tailed deer are highly capable swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 15 miles per hour in the water.

Scientific name

Odocoileus virginianus

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Artiodactyla › Cervidae › Odocoileus

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

increasing

Biome

forest

Habitat

Deciduous forests, edge habitats, brushy fields, and suburban parklands.

Diet

Herbivorous browser consuming twigs, leaves, acorns, fungi, and agricultural crops.

Range

North America, Central America, Northern South America, Caribbean Islands

Size

3 to 3.5 feet tall at the shoulder; weight varies from 100 to 300 pounds.

Lifespan

6 to 10 years in the wild.

Active

crepuscular

Threats

Habitat fragmentation, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), and high rates of vehicle collisions.

Safe to approach?

Generally harmless and shy, but can be defensive during the autumn rut or when protecting fawns. Maintain a distance of 25 yards. If you encounter a fawn alone in the grass, do not touch it; the mother is usually nearby and will return. In the event of a vehicle collision, contact local wildlife authorities or law enforcement.

The white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ), also known as the whitetail or Virginia deer , is a medium-sized deer native to the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru and Bolivia. It has also been introduced to New Zealand, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Lesser Antilles, and some countries in Europe, such as Finland, the Czech Republic, and Serbia. In the Americas, it is the most widely distributed wild ungulate.

Photo: James St. John, CC-BY, via iNaturalist

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