White-tailed deer

White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

One of the few large mammals in western Virginia, white-tailed deer males weigh 198-298 pounds. Females weigh 148-247 pounds (Virginia DWR). With few native predators left, deer populations have rebounded. I often observe small groups of white-tailed deer cross the Shenandoah in the morning and evening.

Morning light grazes two white-tailed deer on the banks of the Shenandoah, North Fork.

I frequently observe deer crossing the Shenandoah.

A young buck makes his way across the North Fork.

A newborn fawn tests its legs.

White-tailed deer have keens senses for detecting predators.

The camouflage of white-tailed deer fawns doesn't seem all that impressive until you realize their natural predators (like wolves) don't distinguish red-green. Check out the second photo (created with a deuteranopia filter in Photoshop) where the fawn almost disappears!

Fawn shown with deuteranopia filter.

Fawn on the North Fork

Fawn shown with deuteranopia filter.

White-tailed deer filmed under moonlight