A recent study has found widespread infection of white-tailed deer with the SARS-CoV-2 virus across New York.
Key facts about White-tailed deer:
- They are the smallest members of the North American deer family.
- Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
- Distribution: They are found in North America from southern Canada through Central America.
Habitat:
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- Includes areas along streams and rivers, mixed woodlands, farms, forests, and burned shrub fields.
- Open areas are used only when thick shrubs or forests are nearby.
Features:
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- It is tan or brown in the summer and grayish brown in winter.
- It has white on its throat, around its eyes and nose, on its stomach, and on the underside of its tail.
- Only male deer grow antlers, which are shed each year.
- They are excellent runners. They can run at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour.
- IUCN Status: ‘Least Concern’