Ken and Mary Campbell

A blacktail deer and her twin fawns in a meadow near Hurricane Ridge

Blacktail Deer – Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

Identification:
Blacktail deer may be the park's most graceful mammal. They are much smaller than Roosevelt elk, and may be seen just about anywhere within Olympic National Park, from subalpine forests and meadowlands down to river valleys. Blacktail deer are considered a subspecies of mule deer, which are common throughout much of the West. They are also closely related to the white-tailed deer, well-known throughout the eastern and Midwestern U.S.

Habitat:
Blacktail deer are particularly common on the edges of forests where there is adequate shelter and ample meadowland. They are often spotted grazing in mountain meadows at dawn and dusk. These graceful creatures are prominent members of the wildlife community.

Diet:
Blacktail deer feed on different types of grasses, lichens, plants, and sometimes berries.

Conservation Status:
Not threatened

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