Whitetail Deer

The Northern Woodland Whitetail Deer, whose antlers are longed for by Pennsylvania hunters, and whose quiet innocence is admired by out-of-town vacationers, has become known as the Pennsylvania State Animal.



The Pocono Mountains provide the perfect habitat for these timid - yet fiercly protective animals. The Pocono's has a lot of seedling-sapling forests, and these wooded areas satisfy two needs of deer. First, is the ability to conceal, or camaflouge themselves. Fawns are especially hidden on the forest floor. The white spots on their coat mimics the sun hitting the ground as it passes through the forest.


Secondly, the forest provides them with food in the form of leaves, stems, and buds from trees and bushes. From late summer into early winter, deer eat soft fruits such as apples, crab apples, and pears. They also have been seen eating chestnuts and acorns - and every gardener knows that it's easier to ask what deer won't eat in our gardens!

Deer have amazing jumping abilities. They have been known to spring as high as 9 feet in the air and can jump areas as wide as 25 feet!

In Pennsylvania, we rely on hunting to control the population of deer. Otherwise, the numbers of deer would explode. The end result with out hunting would be a population of hungry and ematiated animals with too little protective habitat.

Deer can seem shy and timid, but when encountering them it's wise to use caution. Some deer may let you feed them right from your hand, but if a doe feels you are a threat, she will grunt, snort & blow air out of her nostrils. She may act very much like a bull about to charge ~ so you should take extreme caution.

So when you see that distinctive white flag disappearing into the woods, you will know you have seen one of Pennsylvania's most revered animals.