White-Tailed Deer

The most populous, large mammal in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park is the white-tailed deer. They live throughout the entire park but they are most commonly seen in the Cades Cove area and other lower elevation, valley areas of the park. The most striking characteristic of the white-tailed deer is the white underside to their tail, which they use to alert other deer to the presence of danger. This behavior is called flagging.

Doe and young white-tail deer travel in small family groups and do not have a designated den or shelter that they prefer to sleep in. Deer mate in November with fawns being born in June. Fawns have white spots while they are young. As they age, the spots grow into their adult brown colored fur. Spikes, young male deer, began to get antlers in their second year. These antler are used in self-defense and as a way to attract mates. All male deer grow antlers each year which they lose by mid-winter. Deer are herbivores but they are picky and will eat only choice vegetation until winter when the pickings are slim. Deer love nuts and acorns but have been known to even eat poison ivy when they have to.

It is estimated that more than 6,000 deer live in the National Park. Deer population numbers fluctuate greatly throughout the season due to diet, weather and predators. Many young deer lose their lives due to predation from coyote, bear and bobcats. There are many deer that also lose their lives due to interaction with humans. Deer in the national park border on being tame, so it is a good idea to make sure that you are not influencing them any more than you need to when you are viewing them. If you notice that the deer are changing their behavior as you approach you are too close. Back up view them from afar. Remember your goal in the National Park should be to "leave no trace."