Whitetail deer at Fenner Nature Center

Today's post is written by Lynette Score, one of our passionate naturalists here at the nature center. She writes about whitetail deer and how to find them at Fenner.

If you walk our trails, especially at dawn or dusk, you are likely to come across this graceful mammal. Found in every county in Michigan, the Whitetail Deer is a common but nonetheless breathtaking sight. Named for its fluffy white tail which it uses as a “danger flag” to signal its fellow deer, the whitetail plays an important but delicately balanced role in Michigan ecosystems.

As large predator populations that feed on the whitetail (primarily wolves and cougars) have been driven away and/or endangered by humans, the species’ Michigan population has skyrocketed out of control. Deer graze the forest bare in the winter, often starving to death and making it difficult for other species to find food. For this reason, many environmental experts now recommend deer hunting as a population management technique. While deer hunting is not permitted at Fenner, you should definitely try wild-caught venison the next chance you get. It will help regulate deer overpopulation and delight your taste buds at the same time!

Some fun facts about whitetail deer:

• They can run 35 miles per hour, jump over obstacles 8 feet high, and cover 30 feet in a single bound (Peterson Field Guide). 
• They have hollow hairs which provide insulation and help them float when they swim (Michigan DNR).
• They live in family groups of up to 25 individuals. Each group is usually led by a female deer, or a doe (DNR).
• Some female deer have antlers (DNR).

Find them at Fenner!

some recently sighted deer tracks

• You can easily spot Whitetail Deer along our trails near dawn or dusk. The deer also visit our birdfeeders from time to time and steal the cracked corn!
• At this time of year, the mud and snow on the ground make it easy to spot Whitetail Deer tracks.
• In the autumn, male deer rub their antlers on trees to mark their territory. When you see trees with the bark scraped off, this is often the cause.