Columbian White-tailed Deer

The Columbian White-Tailed Deer

Walsky, Jeffery. White-tail Deer buck standing in the snow. 2013. http://mykenoshacounty.com.web.11/15/2017.

or Odocoileus virginianus leucurus, is threatened because of loss of habitat do to industrialization as well as over hunting. They have also been threatened by coyotes getting the fawns, as well as interbreeding with black-tail deer causing hybridization. Recent floods in their habitats have also damaged their numbers. White-tail has been an endangered species since 1973. They primarily have inhabited 60,000 square kilometers west of the Cascade Crest. They now only populate a fraction of this area. They can only be found on the NW end of the Columbian river, and a small lake in Roseburg. That is now only 240 square kilometers of land. They used to live only in higher elevations but now have adapted to lower elevations. They live now in much rainier climates. Their recent population high was 900 deer in 2015 with a low of 350 in 2010. The populations have not expanded the territory they've traveled without human interventions. Leaving them in smaller maladapted environments. They recently have been downlisted from endangered to threatened as the ESA plan to recover populations is working successfully. A few translocations of smaller portions of their populations has expanded their habitat. In an effort to perceive the species 350 white-tail deer have been relocated to multiple wetland rich local islands that remove them from the local dangers. They are adaptable and aren't likely to be in danger of population drops due to climate change.
They have seasonal reproduction beginning in September for rutting season and then fawns being born early march in most cases. Yearlings are capable of giving birth. Most females have twins every spring. White-tail deer do not migrate and rarely expand territories, this is why there have been so many relocation efforts to get a population in areas better suited for their survival. They are herbivories who enjoy the occasional nut or fungi. They eat mostly grasses and sedges.

 I picked white-tail deer because my Father goes hunting every fall (Black-tail) and I know about how closely watched all the deer populations are. I think they are majestic creatures and very beautiful. I was surprised to read that they eat fungi.


Azerrad, J. M. 2016. Periodic status review for the Columbian White-tailed Deer in Washington. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Olympia, Washington, 28+iii pp.