The whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can be found anywhere from Southern Canada to South America. The white tail for which the animal is named is a key feature for communication; when the tail goes up, it’s signaling neighboring deer to be on high alert. Highly adaptable, the deer is able to succeed where other species cannot—in wild spaces that border developed areas, suburban homes and farmland. Just a century ago there were around 1 million deer in North America. Today, there are 30 million. Learn about whitetail anatomy, diet, habitat, and other deer facts.
