Predators
Within a White Tailed Deer environment there are predators in which they must interact with. As mentioned before, predators can affect a carrying capacity within the ecosystem. This is a way to regulate the constantly fluctuating population of the White-Tailed Deer community. This species, however, has many strategies utilized to protect themselves from various predators such as coyotes, foxes, bear and more.
One way that a mother deer protects her fawns is when they discharge fecal matter near their home; the mother will actually consume it in order to prevent predators from picking up on their scent (Moran, n.d.). Another way a mother protects her fawn is by utilizing her white tail. All White-Tail Deer use this as a protection mechanism, but mothers specifically use it to guide her young when there is a threat. The mother will flash her white tail and the fawns know where to find her (Moran, n.d.). For other White-Tailed Deer the flash of a white tail is a warning sign that danger is near and others could be at risk. A fawn will protect itself from a predator by utilizing the camouflage coat they are given at birth. They have the tan-brownish color with additional large white spots. This allows them to blend in to the environment and hide from predators (Deer Trail, n.d.).
Bucks often use their antlers as a form of protection. If they are in danger and they cannot use other abilities such as running and swimming the deer will in fact fight will using their antlers. Bucks mainly use their antlers when attempting to claim dominance over a fellow buck during the rut, the breeding season. During this time the bucks with fight one another attempting to stab someone in the side. The stronger buck would win and be rewarded with a doe during breeding season (Deer Trail, n.d.). The antlers are not a main form of protection for this species because they can only be found on males. The primary protective instinct is their prime sense of smell (Hartigan & Osborne, 2009). Their noses are very sensitive and have the ability to pick up the faintest odors (deertrail.us). These deer also has exquisite eyesight and good hearing (Hartigan & Osborne, 2009).
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