Fun Deer Facts
Signs of the Times
Deer leave many signs behind. These signs tell us some interesting things about deer. It's great fun to look for these signs.
If you get a chance to go hiking this fall, here are a few things to look for:

Tracks - Deer tracks are heart-shaped. The track is made by a deer's hooves, also called toenails. The pointed end of the track points to where the deer was going.

Trails - Deer travel in narrow paths called trails. Trails usually connect where the deer eats and where it rests. Can you find a deer trail? Where do you think the deer was heading?

Deer beds - Just like your bed at home, deer have places on the ground where they lay down to rest. These areas are called deer beds. Deer beds are usually surrounded by plants or shrubs to protect the deer from rain or snow. Deer beds are easy to spot in the snow. Generally deer beds are 3-4 feet long and 1 ½ feet wide.

Buck rubs - Bucks mark their territory by removing bark from trees with their antlers. This is called a "buck rub." Look for buck rubs on trees from September to November. Buck rubs are usually one to two feet high off the ground.

Feeding signs - A deer does not have upper teeth in the front of its mouth. The deer uses its back teeth to twist off twigs to eat. What would the end of a twig bitten off by a deer look like compared to an animal with pointed teeth?