Deer are hoofed mammals belonging to the family Cervidae, characterized by the presence of deciduous antlers in most males (and in both sexes of Rangifer), a specialized ruminant digestive system with a multi-chambered stomach, and typically slender limbs adapted for cursorial locomotion. Cervids exhibit a global distribution across much of the Northern Hemisphere and parts of the Southern Hemisphere, occupying diverse habitats from forests to tundra. They are primarily herbivorous, feeding on grasses, forbs, leaves, and twigs, and play key ecological roles as large herbivores influencing vegetation structure, nutrient cycling, and predator-prey dynamics.
Strong social networking plays an important role in human relationships. New research on female red deer shows that those bonds are also crucial for their reproductive success and survival. The study, which looked at more ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 19, 2026
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At high densities, white-tailed deer inhibit growth of trees but increase the overall diversity of smaller plant and weed species, according to a long-term study published recently. The work is published in the journal PLOS ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 16, 2026
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It was the image that launched a cultural icon. In 1967, in the northern Californian woods, a seven foot tall, ape-like creature covered in black fur and walking upright was captured on camera, at one point turning around ...
Other
Feb 12, 2026
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California wildlife officials have approved a plan to eradicate Catalina Island's entire deer population as part of a broader effort to restore the island ecosystem, sparking fierce opposition from an unusual coalition of ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 4, 2026
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A debilitating hoof disease affecting elk herds across the Pacific Northwest appears to be driven not by a single pathogen but by multiple bacterial species working together, according to a study led by researchers in Washington ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 2, 2026
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A recent review of over 312 studies has identified dozens of unique uses of roadkill in scientific research. The review, published in Biology Letters, discusses the advantages of using roadkill instead of live wildlife and ...
During mating season, when male white-tailed deer want to get noticed by the opposite sex and warn off rivals, they rub their antlers against trees and scrape the forest floor. Then they pee on these patches. But there is ...
Seals give birth only when conditions are right. After mating, a female seal can delay implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall—pausing pregnancy until she senses that her fat reserves are aligned with the season. This ...
Cell & Microbiology
Dec 22, 2025
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As climate change profoundly alters ecosystems in North America, a small parasite is wreaking havoc: the winter tick. This tick, now more prevalent due to milder environmental conditions, is severely affecting the winter ...
Plants & Animals
Dec 16, 2025
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