White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AMALC02020
Common Name: 
White-tailed Deer
Scientific Name: 
Odocoileus virginianus
Naming References: 
W020
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Artiodactyla
Family: 
Cervidae
References: 
H116
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

Can be 12 months, if conditions are good.
References: 
B113

Longevity

Up to about 15 years.
References: 
H111

Economic/Human Considerations

food, sport hunting, tourism, clothing and crafts
References: 
H111
Habitat
Various habitat types - very adaptable.
References: 
H111
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
H111
N001

Distribution

About 180, 000 km² or ~10% of the NWT (H111). Occur up Mackenzie Valley fairly regularly as far as Wrigley; 1 occurrence in Sahtu; fairly common south of Great Slave Lake (H116). Seen from the Alberta border (Smith to Liard) and as far north as Yellowknife? (H122). Unlikely that population is large; been in Fort Simpson area for the past 60 years according to elders (H217).
Score: 
F = 2
References: 
H111
H116
H122
H137
H217

Number of Occurrences

Animal killed in Wool Bay near Yellowknife on 18 October 2007 by J. Sangris (N001); northernmost location is at Little Chicago - August 2007 where Henry Chorney of Fort Good Hope shot a buck, 2 years old (A379) H222). At least four in the Sahtu since 2001 (H263). Seen on Ingraham Trail, year? (L. Yonge).
References: 
H111
H137
N001
H222
A379

Historical Distribution

There is traditional knowledge to indicate that small populations have been around the Fort Simpson area for 70 years or so (H164_05). Sightings from Yellowknife date back to early 1980s (H122).
References: 
H122
H164_05

Area of Occupancy

Increasing (H111). Probably in northern expansion (H116). There is an increasing distribution of observations in the Dehcho with animals being seen near Nahanni Butte and Wrigley and places in between. Likely with an increasing distribution from the south there is an increasing population in the NWT and the Dehcho but they are not new residents to this region (H164_05).
Score: 
-
References: 
H111
H203
H217
N001
H222
H231
H263
Population

Population Size

Unknown; but perhaps about 1,000, based on (T*P)*D = T*0.10*(0.01) (RSC10).
Score: 
E = 2
References: 
RSC10
Trends

Trends

May be increasing (H111, H203). Fewer seen after a bad winter (H217).
Score: 
GH =
References: 
H111
H203
H217
N001
H222
H231
H263
Threats

Threats

Increase in snow depth; predation.
References: 
H111

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited habitat threats - likes disturbed habitats
Score: 
C = M
References: 
H111
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Small distribution and numbers but evidence of northern expansion. Low numbers in the north for a long time (H112).
S Rank: 
S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted as undetermined-secure with status suggestion by the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board in 2000. Modified from undetermined to secure by Deborah Johnson in 2004 (H112). Change due to more information and more common. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Decker Robert (2001) RE: White-tailed deer. e-mail to Anne Gunn (Friday, July 20, 2001 3:08 PM) print out in binder - H203 Return
  • Nic Larter (2008) Terrestrial mammals, news, changes, and updates for the general status program. e-mail to S Carriere 18 july 2008 print out in binder - H217 Return
  • Northern news services (2007) Dettah man bags a deer. Newspaper report - 31 October 2007 printed copy in binder - N001 Return
  • Popko Richard (2009) RE: State of the Environment report Widlife and Species at Risk for review - e-mail to S Carriere Thu 22/01/2009. copy in binder - H222 Return
  • Larter, N (2009) FW: Northern distribution of whitetails. e-mail to R Gau from N Larter September 25, 2009 9:43 AM Copy in binder - H231 Return
  • Popko, R. (2012) White-tailed deer (email to S Carriere 14/02/2012). printed in binder - H263 Return

Economic Status

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Ecozones

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Northern news services (2007) Dettah man bags a deer. Newspaper report - 31 October 2007 printed copy in binder - N001 Return

Habitat

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Bradley, M (1999) Personnal Communication. Biologist / Wood Buffalo National Park, Fort Smith, NT - H122 Return
  • Larter Nic (2004) Notes on re-assessment of mammals. e-mail to S Carriere dated 12/11/04 copy in reference binder - H164_05 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Longevity

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return

Naming

  • Nature Serve: An online encyclopedia of life (web application) (2004) Version 4.0 (01 July 2004). Arlington Virginia USA. Association for Biodiversity Information.. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?init=Species - W020 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return
,
Nic Larter (2008) Terrestrial mammals, news, changes, and updates for the general status program. e-mail to S Carriere 18 july 2008 print out in binder - H217 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return
  • Northern news services (2007) Dettah man bags a deer. Newspaper report - 31 October 2007 printed copy in binder - N001 Return
  • Popko Richard (2009) RE: State of the Environment report Widlife and Species at Risk for review - e-mail to S Carriere Thu 22/01/2009. copy in binder - H222 Return
  • Veitch A. M. (2001) Canadian Field-Naturalist 115:172-175 - A379 Return

Population Size

RWED biologists (2004) Forest Criteria & Iindicator Data Submission Forms - input from RWED on wildlife Criteria 1. Copy in Infobase Reference binder - RSC10 Return

Range Extent

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return
  • Bradley, M (1999) Personnal Communication. Biologist / Wood Buffalo National Park, Fort Smith, NT - H122 Return
  • Sahtu Renewable Resources Board @ Ben Olsen, Biologist (2000) Letter to RWED - dated 30 May 2000. Sahtu Renewable Resources Board Copy in database reference file - H137 Return
  • Nic Larter (2008) Terrestrial mammals, news, changes, and updates for the general status program. e-mail to S Carriere 18 july 2008 print out in binder - H217 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
  • Decker Robert (2001) RE: White-tailed deer. e-mail to Anne Gunn (Friday, July 20, 2001 3:08 PM) print out in binder - H203 Return
  • Nic Larter (2008) Terrestrial mammals, news, changes, and updates for the general status program. e-mail to S Carriere 18 july 2008 print out in binder - H217 Return
  • Northern news services (2007) Dettah man bags a deer. Newspaper report - 31 October 2007 printed copy in binder - N001 Return
  • Popko Richard (2009) RE: State of the Environment report Widlife and Species at Risk for review - e-mail to S Carriere Thu 22/01/2009. copy in binder - H222 Return
  • Larter, N (2009) FW: Northern distribution of whitetails. e-mail to R Gau from N Larter September 25, 2009 9:43 AM Copy in binder - H231 Return
  • Popko, R. (2012) White-tailed deer (email to S Carriere 14/02/2012). printed in binder - H263 Return

Taxonomy

  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return

Threats

  • Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return