White-tailed Deer in the woods by the Wildlife Loop Road

Deer (singular and plural) are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the family include white-tailed deer, mule deer such as black-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer (caribou), fallow deer, roe deer, pudú and chital. Male deer of all species (except the Chinese water deer) and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year. In this they differ from permanently horned animals such as antelope, which are in the same order as deer and may bear a superficial resemblance. The musk deer of Asia and water chevrotain (or mouse deer) of tropical African and Asian forests are not usually regarded as true deer and form their own families: Moschidae and Tragulidae, respectively.

Photo 812, Sept 2007

Deer in the woods by the Wildlife Loop Road

Photo 813, Sept 2007

Deer in the woods by the Wildlife Loop Road

Photo 815, Sept 2007

Deer in the woods by the Wildlife Loop Road

Photo 816, Sept 2007

Deer in field in Valley Forge

Photo 30, April 2008

Deer in field in Valley Forge

Photo 31, April 2008