Some panhandle residents may be searching for menu options at homes and landscapes across north Florida. The homeowners usually are unaware until after the meal has been eaten and the damage must be addressed.
Such is the case with white-tailed deer, a native herbivore, which often strays into suburbia.
Odocoileus virginianus osceolais is the scientific name of the white-tailed deer sub-species living in much of panhandle Florida. It is a member of the Cervidae family which includes moose, elk, and reindeer.
The white-tailed deer’s home range extends from Canada to Peru. There are more than 40 subspecies which cover this territory, each with their own unique features.
This deer is not lost. It is seeking directions to the next tasty meal. Scouting for potential meals of tasty shrubbery at the expense of homeowners is a full-time job for these forest residents.
The first fossil records of deer date back to the Oligocene epoch about 30 million years ago. These early European deer were small by contemporary standards, but they grew to impressive dimensions over time.
The Irish elk was the largest of these early deer. It stood about seven feet at the shoulder and had a 12 foot wide set of antlers.
The origin of the term deer dates back to Old English and was applied to any kind of wild animal. Over the decades the use was refined to only members of the Cervidae family.
The hunting seasons generally coincide with the white-tailed deer’s mating season, locally known as the rut. During this period the deer are very active and move around frequently, so hunting or not, deer sightings increase.
It is common to see a herd of does, some with yearling fawns in fields, pastures, highway shoulders and even on residential lawns. This year many of the fawns have been reported to still have spots on their backs, indicating a very young age.
Bucks are quite a different story. During most of the year they are missing the antlers and stay in small groups of exclusively males.
During late spring the antlers begin to develop. They are covered with a thin living tissue containing many blood vessels and which is commonly referred to as velvet.
During this period males begin to separate and lead solitary lives. They occasionally can be seen in pairs or small groups, but they are usually solo and in pursuit of one or more does.
The antlers are tools to establish dominance over other bucks. As a buck ages, up to a point, the antlers become larger and multi-pronged, but genetics and available nutrition play a role in their development.
If a buck survives past his physical peak, the antlers decline in size and complexity. On rare occasions a doe will also have antlers.
After rut the buck’s antlers are shed, and then consumed by insects. The gestation period for the does is about 200 days, ending with one, two and infrequently three fawns.
The fawns typically arrive in time to enjoy spring or early summer’s flush of tender plant growth in the wild, but also subdivision landscapes. It is best to be prepared for hungry guests, as the holidays are just over the horizon.
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