WHITETAIL DEER

Odocoileus virginianus

The White Tailed Deer (or Texas Whitetail) is a species of deer found in the Americas. The deer's name comes from the undersides of their tails. These work as warning flags to other deer when a predator is nearby. They are also known to stomp when they sense danger but cannot tell what the object is. Other signals include snorting or barking. The males have large, branching antlers that are used to compete with other males in mating season. Near the end of the year the antlers fall off. The deer can overpopulate some areas, although, there are ways to control them. A common method is to extend deer season, allowing hunters to shoot more deer and lower the population.