Ohio Deer Facts

Ohio Deer Facts

• Ohio has an estimated range of 650,000 – 900,000 white-tailed deer in Ohio. This number has significantly increased over the past century as human population has grows and land is developed.
• A doe (female deer) will have her first fawn as early as six months of age while adult doe yield 2-3 fawns per litter/year.
• Deer are the largest herbivore mammals in Ohio.
• Deer thrive in Ohio because the number of natural predators is low and doesn’t affect their population. Humans are the main predators through hunting and motorist accidents.
• Deer are edge species, thriving where forests meet fields as edges contain more plants for deer to eat. As humans continue to divide land, deer have thrived in this suitable habitat.
• A deer’s sense of smell helps select food and communicate with other deer, their nose is over 80x more sensitive than humans.
• A deer’s digestive system is complex, allowing them to eat different foods with each season. Their digestive structures change based on the availability of food, eating cellulose-heavy browse in winter and other plants and shrubs in warmer months.
• An adult deer can jump an average of 12 feet high with some jumping up to 15 feet.