Columbian Black Tailed Deer
Odocoileus hemionus ssp. Columbianus
Appearance
Columbian black-tailed deer are a type of mule deer with large, mule-like ears, a white rump and an all-black tail. They can grow to be over one metre tall at the shoulder, and can weigh from 30 to 210 kilograms.
Range & Habitat
Black-tailed deer live from the alpine to temperate rainforest and are often found in clearings caused from forest fires or logging. Columbian black-tailed deer are confined to the islands of the Pacific northwest and the western slopes of the Coast mountain range.
reciprocal relationships
Black-tailed deer are important grazers and primary consumers. They eat grass, leaves, twigs, and shrubs. In the winter they retreat to the forest, where they browse on understory vegetation, particularly lichens. They are a vital part of the diet of different predators. The cougar depends on this species, and the mule deer helps supplement the diet of bears, coyotes, and scavenger species.
Fawns are normally born as twins. Mother deer will hide her fawns as she browses nearby. The males grow a set of antlers each year, which they use for fighting, getting food from trees and self-defence. The black-tailed deer is an important food for many coastal First Nations throughout the province. It is an especially important food for the Nootka on Vancouver Island, who primarily hunt this deer.
Deer populations are being threatened by logging of older coastal forests. Deer need these forests for their winter range because this habitat has a lot of food on the ground and little snow. Logging road systems also provide easy access to deer by wolves, cougars and humans.
Fawns are normally born as twins. Mother deer will hide her fawns as she browses nearby. The males grow a set of antlers each year, which they use for fighting, getting food from trees and self-defence. The black-tailed deer is an important food for many coastal First Nations throughout the province. It is an especially important food for the Nootka on Vancouver Island, who primarily hunt this deer.
Deer populations are being threatened by logging of older coastal forests. Deer need these forests for their winter range because this habitat has a lot of food on the ground and little snow. Logging road systems also provide easy access to deer by wolves, cougars and humans.
more information
If you belong to a First Nation with a story or piece of information not represented here and you would like to share more about this species, please email us at education@sierraclub.bc.ca.
photo credit
Mya Van Woudenberg
