The White-Tailed Deer

Background

The graceful and gentle white-tailed deer is frequently spotted among the tall white pines of The Cook Forest. The average buck weighs about 125-150 lb and stands roughly three feet tall at its shoulder. White-tailed deer belong to the Cervidae family. Other members who share this species are elk, moose, and caribou.

Distinctive Characteristics

The tail of this variety of deer sets it apart from other types. By holding its tail high in the air, the deer impresses onlookers with its proper appearance, showing off the soft, white hair underneath. White-tailed deer are tan in color. Bucks and some doe grow antlers beginning when they're less than a year old. The fur of the young fawn is speckled with white spots.

Habitat

Deer thrive in a woody environment filled with herbaceous plants, shrubs, evergreens, and hard and soft fruits. Cook Forest's thick tapestry of saplings and shrubs provides a healthy resource for food that sustains the deer population. They also help to conceal them from predators.

Spotting a Deer

Hunters have perfected many techniques for finding deer. But if you're interested in simply watching a deer live in its natural habitat, look for herds feeding along the edges of the forest at dawn and at dusk. If there's a field, there may be more food there than in the forest. Don't try to follow a deer. It will circle back if it senses it's being watched. Your chances of seeing a deer are best if you remain still. Picking a spot where you've seen one might be your best bet. Don't use the same spot for days, however. Deer possess a keen sense of smell. The longer you stay in oail, the red fox is much more distinctive looking than its gray cousin. Conversely, the gray has a duller coat and a black line running down its back. Only the gray fox can climb trees, a unique trait unshared by any other member of its species.