Wisconsin Wildlife - White-Tailed Deer

by Wisconsin-Getaway-Cabins.com

One of the most common Wisconsin wildlife sightings is the White-tailed Deer. In fact it is the most abundant big-animal in North America. Not originally native to Wisconsin, their appearance became widespread when logging and over-hunting of other species occurred in the 1800s.

Vegetarian (herbivore) and nocturnal, deer consume anywhere between five and nine pounds of herbs, nuts, twigs, grass, corn and other plant substances per day. The average Wisconsin White-tail deer stands about three feet tall and weights about 200 pounds. They have over-sized ears, large eyes and keen sense of smell that allows them to detect approaching predators. Their front teeth are sharp so they can bite and gnaw through nuts and bark, while they have molars to help them chew. Their fur ranges from reddish-brown in summer to grayish-brown in winter and fawns have spotted coats, all intended as effective natural camouflage for these majestic creatures.

Deer have a four-chamber stomach that allows them to eat and drink things we humans would find poisonous or impossible to digest. This is because in the winter, deer have to resort to a diet of nuts, twigs and bark in order to survive.

The buck (male) is solitary except for late summer and early fall when he seeks out other males to spar. They make a show by stomping on the ground and marking their territory by rubbing their antlers against trees causing buck rubs. You can tell when a buck has been in the area if you find trees whose bark


has been rubbed off at about two to three feet off the ground.

Deer are fast and powerful. They can jump close to 9 feet in the air and run at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. They can leap 30 feet and can even swim. They really don't seek shelter in bad weather like other animals, but in the winter, they will find sheltered areas with good food supplies.

If one has ever seen deer in Wisconsin, they know that these are nocturnal creatures, moving in herds, nursing their young at night. They don't have nests or dens per se, but sleep in a different "bed" each night. You can tell a deer bed in a pile of leaves or in snow, because it will be an oval-shaped indentation about 3.5 feet long and 1.5 feet wide. You can also tell their hoof prints, as they are quite common and heart-shaped. The pointed end of the print is the direction the deer was headed.

Fall is mating season for the White-tailed Deer with offspring appearing in the spring or early summer, six to seven months later.

Bucks are known for their antlers that are covered with short hair (velvet) in the winter. Velvet is full of blood vessels that provide nourishment to help new growth which begins in January or February. Bucks use their antlers while sparring when they fight for the privilege of mating.


For information about deer hunting in Wisconsin, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.