Montana Wildlife - Whitetail Deer
Whitetails get their highly creative name from the underside of their posterior, which they wave like flags when in flight as a visual alarm to other deer in the area. Exceptionally graceful, built for speed and stealth, whitetails have a tendency to materialize from thin air and disappear again in much the same way; they will attempt to quietly sneak away from danger before being detected or going into full flight. They are highly alert animals that have a sense of smell coupled with an ability to detect noises that are far superior to those of humans. Their noses are so acutely tuned that studies have shown deer can detect human scent on underbrush for days after being present in an area.
Whitetails are also highly adaptive creatures; found across the United States from the swamplands of Florida to the prairies of Montana and even into the urban and suburban populations of many major cities from coast to coast. Whitetails have expanded their habitat considerably over the past century, and have achieved record populations in many areas.
Quick Facts:
- Whitetails are prolific reproducers two adults of breeding age can produce a herd of up to thirty-five in just seven years if there is no predation
- Under optimal conditions without any regulating factors their populations can double annually.
- Most whitetails (particularly males) mate in their second year, although some females occasionally mate as early as seven months.
- There are 30 subspecies of whitetail that have been identified which all vary greatly in size.
- The subspecies common to the Northern United States are the largest of the subspecies, having mature males (bucks) that can weigh over 250 pounds sometimes up 350 pounds.
- Known predators include: gray wolves, mountain lions, coyotes and bears making them an integral part of the food chain.
- Whitetails have a mating season very similar to that of the mule deer, in terms of timing, habits and characteristics.
- Antler growth in whitetails is also quite similar to that of mule deer, differing mainly in the configuration of the antler itself. Whitetails have long main beams that have smaller points protruding from them whereas mule deer have large forks that emerge from the main beams.
- Fawns (young) are also born spotted as a form of natural camouflage, but are able to walk at birth and begin browsing and grazing soon after.
All best,
______________________
Jason Frey
Agent
PureWest, Inc.
jason.frey@purewestproperties.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfreylifewideopen
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