Range: Most of North America, except for extreme northern
and western parts; Central America; and northern South America.
Status of the Species: The white-tailed deer today in the United States occupy more
habitats over a greater range and in larger numbers than ever before. At the start of this
century, they had been eliminated from most of their range in a number of states. The
species occurs in low numbers in much of Central America and northern South America. Their
low density in these areas stems from overhunting.
Status of the SRS Deer Herd: The white-tailed deer on the Savannah River Site in
Aiken, S.C., had been reduced to very low numbers, perhaps only a couple of dozen deer in
the swamp and lowland forests, during the early 1950s. Whit the establishment of the SRS,
the herd expanded to more than 5,000 deer, and hunting during the fall and early winter
commenced in the late 1960s. The current herd size is slightly more than 4,000 after
annual hunts. The herd has an even sex ratio, high levels of genetic diversity, and deer
are in good condition as measured by the amount of body fat. Because of hunting, few deer
live beyond four years of age.
Habitat Description: White-tailed deer occur in every habitat on the SRS, except in
the deep swamp. It is naturally considered a forest species, occuring on the edge of
forest openings.
Breeding Biology: Whitetails are seasonal breeders with the peak occurring in early
November, and the majority of all breeding occurs within one month before and after this
time. On average, 40 percent of females breed their first year as fawns and nearly 100
percent of adult females breed during each year of their life. Females have one, two or
occasionally three offspring. The usual number is two. On average, there are about 180
offspring produced per 100 females in the population each year.
Feeding Biology: Whitetails are predominately browsers, feeding on shrubs, vines,
woody stems and both soft and hard mast. They even eat poison ivy as unwary hunters have
found out when sorting through their rumen contents. Deer rarely graze on grass species.
Research: Scientists at the University of Georgia have studied white- tailed deer
on the SRS since the late 1950s. Scientists have written more than 100 scientific papers,
theses or dissertations, and reports about this species on the SRS. These publications
have involved more than 100 researchers at more than 30 universities.
The SRS deer are among the best studied genetically of any mammalian population.
White-tailed deer is one of the keystone species on the SRS -- it can affect most other
terrestrial animal and plant species. Ecology Lab scientists have studied most aspects of
the biology of this species. Studies have focused on prenatal and postnatal growth
patterns, body condition, fat dynamics, radioecology, mineral cycling, genetics, antler
development, food habits, habitat relationships, reproductive biology, developmental
asymmetry, age structure, population fluctuations, and number of car accidents involving
deer. The number of deer on the SRS is primarily controlled by the harvest of deer by
hunters, and a correlation exists between the rate and magnitude of change in deer-car
accidents and the number of deer.
Interesting Facts:
1. Whitetails are the most popular big-game species in North America.
2. There are more whitetails today in the United States than there were when Columbus
discovered America.
3. Whitetails provide millions of people with recreation, food, clothing, decorations and
even utensils.
4. Whitetails are among the most genetically variable mammals studied.
5. Whitetails on the SRS can almost double their number every year, and with this high
reproductive rate and lack of predators, they can rapidly become a problem because of
their effects on the vegetation of an area and their propensity to cause car accidents.
This fact sheet was produced by the Outreach Program of Savannah River Ecology
Laboratory.
Last review: October 12, 2007