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Animal profile

White-tailed deer

Odocoileus virginianus

MammaliaForest edge, farmland, suburb, wetland and tropical woodlandLeast Concern

Field profile

The white-tailed deer is the most widespread deer in the Americas, named for the flag of white hair raised when it flees. It thrives on edge habitat and reaches very high densities in farmland and suburbs.

Scope note

This is an editorial profile, not a diagnostic field-identification guide or a substitute for current conservation assessments. Follow the cited sources on each fact for the evidence trail.

Published field notes

2023-07-05

White-tailed deer

Wild deer caught COVID from people repeatedly

Surveys of free-ranging white-tailed deer across North America found widespread SARS-CoV-2 infection and antibodies. The virus did not arrive once: genetic sequences show many separate introductions from humans, followed by deer-to-deer spread.

Read with evidence →

White-tailed deer | Daily Animal Facts