A "New World deer", Whitetail Deer inhabit the gamut from Canada to Bolivia within forests, swamps, or deserts, preferring forest edges and brush lands to browse on assorted vegetation with preference to buds and twigs of trees and shrubs, cacti, evergreen trees in winter, or other plants. The white tail on their posterior is object for their name. Shy and nervous, they flee for safety by bounding up to 30 mph or strongly swimming away.
