3 Types of Deer Found in North America

Depending on where you live in the United States, you might hear “watch out for deer!” and with good reason. The U.S. abounds with these graceful, large-eyed creatures — and they have an alarming habit of trying to cross the road when you’re driving. With that said, there’s an elegance and beauty to deer (when they’re not eating your garden plants). Learn how many types of deer reside in North America, and how to tell which one you might see in your region.

Mule Deer

If you live in the western United States, there’s a decent chance any deer you spot along a trail will be mule deer. Commonly found everywhere west of the Missouri river and all the way into California, females typically live in groups while males strike out on their own. You can identify them by looking for a black-tipped tail and long ears. Well-adapted to rocky and barren environments, they graze on grasses, shrubs, bark and acorns.

You’re sure to laugh at these funny photos of deer.

White-tailed Deer

These deer are the most common subspecies in North America. Throughout most of the Midwest, they’ll be the ones to watch out for when you drive at dusk. Their range extends through most of the continental United States, except for the Southwest and California. Similar in appearance to mule deer, a few key differences help set them apart. White-tailed deer have white tails, rather than the mule deer’s black-tipped tail. In addition, white-tailed deer have shorter ears and stockier bodies. Males’ antlers fork differently, with white-tails’ antlers growing from a single tine in comparison to the multiple branching prongs of a mule deer. These deer spend much of their time in suburbs and forests, where they dine on plants.

If you find a baby deer in your yard, here’s what to do.

Black-tailed Deer

Black-tailed deer have a very limited range in the United States. Seen in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Alaska, they’re technically a subspecies of mule deer. Two black-tailed types of deer have a range within the United States: Sitka, and Columbian. The easiest way to differentiate a black-tailed deer from a mule deer is to look at the deer’s size. Black-tailed deer are far smaller than mule or even white-tailed deer, weighing approximately 150 pounds at most. In contrast to the other deer subtypes, their tails are almost completely black and thicker than a mule deer’s. Black-tailed deer are found in coastal forests, where they eat a variety of plants, berries, and even fungi.

Plant these deer-resistant bulbs for spring blooms.

Sources

• Missouri Department of Conservation, “White-Tailed Deer“
• National Park Service, “Mule Deer“
• Olympic National Park (NPS), “Blacktail Deer“