White-tailed Deer are the most common deer species in all of North America. Found in forested areas across the continent, White-tailed Deer are often also seen grazing in fields and open areas. Although not native to Nova Scotia, White-tailed Deer arrived in the province over 100 years ago. It is speculated that they were first introduced by sportsmen, but White-tailed Deer expanded their range drastically during the late 19th and early 20th century, moving into much of the territory they now frequent across Canada, driven by several factors including human activity and decreased competition from other deer species. White-tailed Deer have difficulty at times surviving the harsh winter climate of their “new” northern habitats. As a result, their population numbers can fluctuate dramatically from year to year, decreasing due to climactic conditions and then rapidly increasing through successful breeding seasons.

Like other members of the deer family, White-tailed Deer are ruminant herbivores, consuming a wide variety of plant material. During spring/summer they eat greens such as grasses and leaves including fresh buds and shoots. In autumn they consume acorns, berries, fruit and grains like corn, bulking up for winter when they switch to woody twigs and bark as well as evergreens.

Following mating season, known as rut, in the autumn months, White-tailed Deer give birth to spotted fawns in the spring. When conditions are favourable, does will often produce twins, and triplets are not uncommon. Younger does (capable of breeding by 7 months of age and delivering their first fawn at a year) tend to produce single fawns. A unique characteristic of White-tailed Deer is that they tuck their young away in secluded spots and return only every 12 hours or so to nurse and check on them. People often mistakenly believe they have discovered an orphan fawn when in fact, it is not, and if left alone, its mother will return on schedule. White-tailed Deer have many predators, but as adults the largest is by far humans who harvest them during hunting season. In Nova Scotia, the biggest predator threat to White-tailed Deer is coyotes (and domestic dogs) although black bears, bobcats and bald eagles will also prey upon fawns if given the opportunity.

White-tailed Deer fawns have very little body smell in the first few weeks of life, which helps keep them hidden from predators. White-tailed Deer coats are made up of hollow hairs that help keep them warm. Their coat also changes colour dependent on season to help them camouflage. As ruminants, they have a 4-chambered stomach to aid in the lengthy digestion process of the plant material that they eat. Additionally, their stomachs contain special microorganisms that break down cellulose (a polymer in the cell walls of plant cells), something that regular digestive enzymes cannot do.  

• In Mi'kmaq culture, Deer are valued for providing hides that make clothing, shelter and drums, their meat is eaten, sinew makes cords and bones make tools. Deer represent a respectful relationship with the land where every part of the animal is used and nothing is wasted. This teaches gratitude and balance.

• Mothers leave fawns unattended, but hidden, for many hours each day to minimize her scent rubbing off on them in order to protect them from predation while she feeds to keep her milk strong for the growing baby.  

• Fawns are taught to remain motionless when hiding and to hold their bodily waste until their mother comes back to consume it to  minimize scent and further protect the fawns from predation. The spots on the fawn act as camouflage to help them hide.

• White-tailed deer are very good swimmers and can reach speeds of  24 km/hr (15mph) in the water. It is therefore no surprise that they will use bodies of water to escape predators.

• With a running start White-tailed Deer are able to jump more than 9 meters (30 feet) horizontally! They can run up to 56 km/hr (35mph) and jump 2.4 meters (8 feet) high vertically.

• Deer antlers can grow at a rate of 1.3cm (0.5 inch) per day, making it among the fastest growing material in the animal kingdom.