A Look at the Life of the Elusive Whitetail
Literally
millions of white-tailed deer inhabit the forests of the United States, yet the
average person rarely sees one. How can that be.
Just
how much do we really know about the life of this mysterious, prolific brown
ghost of the deep woods? For most Americans –even hunters – the answer is
not much.
The
life of the Whitetail deer is fascinating, stressful and complex. The
whitetail’s every action is driven by the need of food, the urge to breed, the
instinct of raising young and the good sense to avoid man.
The
whitetail deer lives in a complex social system that varies widely from season
to season. Here’s a look at the life of a whitetailed deer:
The
females, or does, give birth to one or two young, called fawns. Meanwhile, the
male deer, called bucks, gather in close-knit groups and offer no help in
raising the young.
This
time of the year, the doe, which is still being followed by the yearling or
yearlings she gave birth to the year before., will give birth to a fawn, or if
she has had proper nutrition, a set of twins. The fawns are usually 4 to 6
pounds each.
The
tiny fawns, which have limited mobility for the first seven to 10 days, would be
sitting ducks for predators like coyotes and wild dogs if not for the
intervening hand of Mother Nature.
The
doe tends the fawn during the night, but leaves it attended during the day
because of its inability to keep up with the mother during the constant search
for food. The fawns’ reddish-brown color and white spots make for a camouflage
that blends perfectly with their surroundings during the long hours the fawn is
alone.
The
fawn’s scent is not a problem during this period, either. The fawn is unable
to urinate or defecate without being stimulated by the licking of its mother.
When the mother returns to the fawn in the evening, the fawn is relieved and the
doe consumes the wastes, leaving no scent.
This
period also marks the white-tailed deer’s first critical period with humans.
Many well-meaning people find fawns during this time and are unable to locate
the mother. Believing the mother must be dead or the fawn has been abandoned,
the fawn is either taken to a rescue shelter of the finder attempts to raise it
on his own.
During
this fawning period, the bucks are in groups and have no interest in the young
they sired. The bucks are more concerned with their soft, delicate, forming
antlers, which are covered with a protective covering known as velvet. These
antlers are at a stage that they can be easily damaged.
The
fawns older than four weeks will have lost their spots and they continue to
nurse even though they have been eating vegetation since they were 10 days old.
Although the fawns will nurse for up to six months, those separated from the
does at this point can survive.
The
bucks that lived in friendly groups throughout the summer take on a different
attitude when the rut is near.
Bucks
remain in groups at first, but become increasingly more intolerant of the bucks
that surround them. They begin rubbing trees to mark their individual
territories. Playful pushing matches (using their antlers) become common as they
begin the pecking order of dominance.
This
is the time of year both bucks and does need a high-protein diet to build body
fat. Acorns are hopefully plentiful. That body fat will help sustain them
throughout the breeding season and winter.
What
was once pushing matches between bucks becomes sparring matches. Broken antlers
and puncture wounds are sometimes a result.
Although
the buck is able to breed, the does are not capable and the bucks work out their
frustrations by continuing to establish the order of dominance.
The
sexual changes are evident even in yearling bucks. They become so aggravating to
does and female fawns in the group that they are forced out to form their own
groups or to join existing buck groups. The female yearlings are allowed to
remain.
The
buck has only one thing on his mind when the full rut arrives. He often
literally quits eating. The typical buck will lose 20 to 25 percent of his body
weight, including all of its body fat and some muscle. The buck’s neck will
also begin to swell, believed to be caused by the strengthening of the neck
muscles by the constant rubbing of trees with his antlers.
Bucks
also begin an unusual, humorous rite at this time. They will find locations
where does have urinated and stand there paralyzed with their heads lifted in
the air and their lips curled, Elvis style.
This
is done because the bucks have detected that the doe is showing signs of coming
into estrus.
The
buck is totally intolerant of all other bucks at this stage. Serious fights,
including battles where sometimes one or both bucks will fight to their death,
ensue.
A
buck will pick a mate and stay with her until the 24 to 48 hour period she is
ready to breed. After she is bred, he will seek other mates.
Does
that are not bred will come into cycle again in 28 days.