The harsh climate of northern New England provides special challenges to this animal. Stay with us on the Montshire Minute this week as we discover some surprising things about the white tailed deer. Tuesday White-tailed deer are more akin to sprinters than long distance runners. With long, thin legs, they are built for speed, specializing in the quick getaway. Deer have been known to clear an eight-foot fence from a standstill and jump 30 feet on the run.
Deer are fast.
We're talking 40 miles per hour for short distances. When chased longer distances by predators, however, they will tire and often are overtaken. Deer are usually seen at dawn or dusk, times when they are feeding. According to Stokes' Guide to Animal Tracking and Behavior, deer eat lots of vegetation in a short time. Then they quickly return to their protected bedding areas safely away from predators where they can rechew their food ast their leisure.