A deer is a four-legged mammal with hooves and antlers belonging to the family Cervidae. Male deer are called stags while female deer are called does or hinds. The offspring of a deer are called fawns. Deer are found in many different parts of the world and are widely hunted for their meat and fur.
Deer are ruminant animals meaning that they have a four-chambered stomach which they use to digest their food. Deer are mostly herbivores eating leaves grasses fruits and nuts but they will also eat meat if it is available. In the winter when food is scarce deer will eat the bark of trees to survive.
The life cycle of a deer begins with the doe giving birth to a fawn. The fawn is born with spots which help to camouflage it from predators. The spots gradually disappear as the fawn grows older. The fawn will stay with its mother for around a year before leaving to fend for itself.
Males and females reach maturity at different rates with stags taking longer to reach full size than does. Males also continue to grow their antlers each year while females only grow antlers if they are pregnant.
Deer typically live for around 10 years in the wild but can live for much longer in captivity.
There are around 60 different species of deer found throughout the world including red deer white-tailed deer elk moose and reindeer.
What is the name for a female deer?
A doe.
What is the gestation period for a deer?
6-7 months.
What is the lifespan of a deer?
10-12 years.
At what age do deer reach sexual maturity?
1-2 years.
How many times can a deer mate in a single mating season?
2-3 times.
How many does can a buck mate with in a single season?
Up to 20.
How many offspring does a deer typically have?
1-3 with twins being most common.
How long does it take for a deer to wean its offspring?
3-4 months.
What is the primary cause of death for deer?
Hunting is the leading cause of death followed by vehicle collisions.
How many stomachs does a deer have?
Four.
What do deer eat?
Deer are herbivores and primarily eat grasses but will also consume twigs leaves and buds.
How much does the average deer weigh?
Male deer (bucks) weigh anywhere from 150-250 pounds while females (does) weigh about 100-200 pounds.
How fast can deer run?
Deer can run up to 30 miles per hour.
What is the primary predator of deer?
Wolves are the primary predator of deer but coyotes bears and mountain lions will also prey on them.
Do deer have any natural predators?
No deer have no natural predators.
