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Project Noah Nature School
Odocoileus virginianus
The Eastern white-tail is a medium sized deer that standing approximately 3.5 feet at the shoulder with a reddish brown coat in the warmer months that shifts to a greyish in the winter. The fawn's spotted reddish-brown coat will be replaced by the greyer winter coat as well. Males (bucks) are larger than females and grow antlers that can stretch up to 3 feet across.
Traditionally deer live in wooded area, but will travel through neighborhood's gardens and lawns browsing (eating). These pictures are set in our backyard, where this herd of 6 chose to bed down for the night.
When the herd settled down to rest (and chew cud), the deer all tended to position themselves in a configuration that allowed them to (collectively) see in 360 degrees. Three or four of the herd would cluster in a group and the other two settled down a short ways away, facing in opposite directions.
Spotted on Apr 18, 2013
Submitted on Apr 23, 2013
3 Comments
Thank you! I was rather impressed by how comfortable.they felt with myself and the neighbors. They were a little suspicious of the whirring and beeping of the camera but I stationed myself a respectable distance away (upwind) and sat down so they ignored me after that. They seemed to know who to expect in the area because they also just gave the neighbors as they arrived home but got up and moved to another portion of the yard when one neighbor brought a guest/stranger with them.
Thank you :) Usually deer just pass through or show up after dark so this time I took the opportunity to watch how they move. It was really interesting. The range of movement on the ears is pretty amazing.
Beautiful!