Deer

Deer pic1

The white-tailed deer is common in New England. It is tan or brown in summertime, and grayish brown in winter. These mammals are herbivores, meaning that they feed on plant material, such as grass, leaves, seeds, nuts, and even twigs and bark. Baby deer, called fawns, have white spots on them that help them blend in with their surroundings (called camoflauge), which makes them harder for predators to see. Deer prefer to live in wooded areas. They are very good at running, leaping, and swimming, which helps them escape from predators. When a mother deer is running from a threat, she will often raise her tail (called "flagging"), revealing the white underside. This white "flag" allows her fawn to know where she is and stay with her while she is running2.

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References:

1) Image is ClipArt from Microsoft Word

2) (2009). White-tailed deer- odocoileus virginianus. Retrieved April 12, 2009, from NatureWorks Web site: http://www.nhptv.org/NATUREWORKS/whitetaileddeer.htm