WHITE-TAILED DEER

     White-tailed deer are entering their rut, or breeding time, in early October in southeastern Pennsylvania, as elsewhere.  At that time they are more visible than any other time of year because they move around more, the females in little groups, looking for mates, and are less cautions.  Throughout the year, however, they are most safe in suburban areas where hunting is not allowed.    

     Through the seasons, over many years, I have enjoyed seeing the adaptable, stately white-tails, in the flesh, browsing on twigs, buds and leaves in local woods and older suburban areas with their many planted trees and shrubbery, and grazing on grass, hay, and corn and soybean leaves in croplands.  And, in recent years, I enjoy seeing white-tailed deer, close-up, every day, day and night, by live cameras in wildlife refuges and our computer screen.  

     To me, white-tailed deer are the most elegant, graceful, two-toed, cud-chewing mammals in the world.  Bucks, does, and fawns of all ages, are handsomely petite, beautiful creatures to admire and be inspired by.

     In October, the magnificent bucks, each with four to ten boney tines on their antlers, and filled with testosterone, begin sparring with each other to determine which one is biggest and strongest, and entitled to breeding rights.  Those contests continue through October and November with pairs of bucks of equal size pushing their antlers together, with heads down, to push each other about, back and forth, to test each others strength.  If close enough, one can hear the antlers rattling.  Most of the time each buck of a match goes away unharmed, but the winner knows he has access to mating with the female deer in his vicinity, which produces more robust fawns.              

     Starting around sunset some late afternoons in January, when snow is on the ground, I cruise slowly along country roads in Chester County, Pennsylvania to see the majestic white-tails exiting woodlands to feed in hay fields.  Little herds of them stroll out and are quite visible in the snow cover, creating inspiring, wild spectacles in the developing darkness.  Moonlit nights are particularly beautiful with moonlight bouncing off the snow and making the deer even more visible.  I don't use spotlights to see the deer and I stay in the car because deer flee the human figure, for good reason.  

     Fawns are born late in May in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Each fawn has a reddish-brown coat of hair, with white spots, which mimic sunlight shining through the vegetation they shelter in.  By September, they are nearly grown, but still retain their spots, which helps camouflage them.  

     During September, some adult deer still have their reddish-brown, summer fur coats, but other individuals already have their gray, thicker winter coats.  But all deer, young and older of both genders, have white hair under their tails.  When deer see, hear or smell potential danger, they raise their tails and wave them like white banners to warn their relatives of the problem.  

     White-tails are elegant, graceful creatures, and so adaptable they can live well among human activities, much to their, and our, benefit.  Enjoy seeing white-tailed deer, perhaps even in your own back yard, or in neighboring fields.  They are a huntable species, but the Pennsylvania Game Commission is good about managing white-tail numbers through the year.  Therefore we should be able to enjoy these deer for many years to come.            

        

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