White-tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), is yellow listed (not at risk) in British Columbia. In fact, these animals are the most widely distributed and abundant ungulate in the Western Hemisphere.

Map

Biodiversity Interactive Map - White-tailed Deer

Range

• Range extends across southern Canada from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, and southward through the entire U.S., Mexico, and Central America into the northern third of South America.
• In B.C. they are most abundant along valley bottoms in the Kootenay and Okanagan regions.  In northern B.C. they are most abundant in the Peace River Region.
• Throughout the Columbia Basin. Particularly abundant in valley bottoms adjacent to agricultural land.

Habitat

Deer are remarkably well adapted to living near humans. They occupy many types of habitats in mountains and lowlands, including various forests and woodlands, forest edges, shrublands, grasslands with shrubs, and residential areas.

Reproduction

• Usually mate in November.
• Gestation period of 195-210 days, fawns born in late May or early June.
• Twins are the rule, but single births and triplets are not uncommon.

Listing and Date

Threats to Species

Presently not threatened - population is managed by Ministry of Environment (MOE) hunting regulations.

Select Reports

• Use of Night Spotlighting for Estimating White-tailed Deer population trends in the Pend d’Oreille Valley

• Movement, Survival, and Mortality of White-tailed deer in the Pend d’Oreille River Valley

• Winter Habitat Selection by White-tailed Deer in the Pend d'Oreille Valley, Southeastern British Columbia

For more information on this species, visit The BC Species and Ecosystem Explorer and enter “white-tailed deer” in the Species Name field.