Author: Marci Cannon
07/18/2006
Oh Deer……..
It was July 15, 2006, 1:00 pm, a very hot, humid, and sunny afternoon in North Augusta, SC. As I drove into the neighborhood, I saw a deer scamper across the road. I thought this was an unusual time of day to see a deer. As I drove slowly a few feet I saw not one or two but 3 more deer run across the roadway. What a beautiful site to see the wildlife still able to share their community with our community.
Fun Deer Facts:
Deer are primarily nocturnal, but they may be active at any time. They usually bed down near dawn, provided they can find adequate cover to keep them from being seen.
Deer mainly eat vegetation, including grass, leaves, stems, shoots, twigs, berries, herbs, mushrooms, wild fruit, agricultural crops like corn or soy beans, nuts, acorns, and the buds on a variety of plants.
You can tell the age of a deer by its teeth. They have baby teeth just like human babies. By the time the baby deer is 18 months, permanent teeth have replaced the baby teeth. They have no teeth in the front of the top jaw. Instead they have a hard palate, which is used in much the same way as teeth.
Deer usually breed in the fall and early winter, October to January.
Male deer mark their territory by removing the bark from trees with their antlers and scratching their hooves in the ground.
Deer usually stay in one area. Related females who form matriarchies and that exclude adult males share these areas.
Deer can live up to 20 years.
http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_facts/Deer.htm
http://www.carolina.com/redwolf/animals/deer.asp
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/ce/eek/critter/mammal/fawn.htm#four