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Deer Fact sheet Basic Deer Biology Diet Eats green plants in spring and summer; corn, acorns, nuts in fall; buds and twigs of woody plants and conifers (especially white cedar and white pine) in winter. White-tailed deer are ruminants, meaning that they have a four-chambered stomach. Reproduction Mate in November or December. Does have 1-3 fawns in the spring. Fawns usually hidden in tall grass while doe feeds. Fawns normally stay with mother for one year. Bucks re-grow antlers every year. Antlers shed in late winter after breeding season. W supplies nutrients to the growing bone. Predators Coyote, dogs (among others such as gray wolf, black bear, and lynx which are usually not present in urban environments). Other Facts Can run up to 30 miles per hour, leap as high as 10 feet and as far as 30 feet in a single bound; they are also good swimmers. When alarmed, a deer will raise its tail to show the white underside as a flag. This signals other deer to danger in the area. Why are deer overpopulated? Deer thrive on edge habitat. Edge habitats are transitional areas between forests and open spaces. Humans have greatly increased the acreage of edge habitat. Croplands, parks, and urban/suburban landscaping are convenient year-round food sources for deer. Many of these areas were formerly forests or fields. In addition, fertilized vegetation can be more nutrient-rich than vegetation in the forest. At the same time, landscape changes have reduced the numbers of natural predators of deer, such as wolves and mountain lions. Problems of Overpopulation Minnesota is the 10th state in automobile collision risks from deer. About 2,500 deer collisions are reported each year (Minnesota Department of Public Safety, 2011). November is the worst month for collisions with motorists due to the mating season and other factors like hunting. 13 | Page