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White Tailed Deer Research Paper

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White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is one of the largest spread mammals in the North region of America. White-tailed deer are grayish brown in the winter and red-brown in the summer (Curtis and Sullivan 2001). Compared to female deer (does), male deer (buck) have antlers and they weigh between 125-200 pounds. Female deer weigh less than male deer. (Curtis and Sullivan 2001). White-tailed deer are opportunistic animals that take advantage of unexploited areas. They are mostly found on the edge of the forest, shrub lands, agricultural fields, open grasslands, and suburban areas (Curtis and Sullivan 2001).
White-tailed deer are large primary consumers or herbivores that feed on plants (primary producers). Their diet consists mainly of grasses, herbaceous plants, and fruits. Their diet changes according to the habitat and season. For instance, they feed on green plants such as grasses, forbs, crops, leaves, twigs, and buds during the summer and spring season (Curtis and Sullivan 2001). In the fall, they concentrate on nuts, acorns, and corns. They eat twigs and buds during the winter season.
According to Curtis and Sullivan (2001), the percentage of a deer consumption is dependent on its body weight and gender. The authors added that a male deer requires about 4,000 to 6,000 calories per …show more content…

When herbivorous species such as white-tailed deer and elks are the main predators in a habitat, they create an imbalance in the habitat, and force other species in the habitat to go extinct. Natural predation also has a stronger impact in stabilizing or reducing the population of white-tailed deer than human hunting alone. One of the main reasons for the overpopulation of the deer was the extinction of their predators. Every animal in the food web is highly important in keeping the balance in the ecosystem. Yellowstone National Park was a great example of how every species support the

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