A recent study has found widespread infection of white-tailed deer with the SARS-CoV-2 virus across New York.

 

About ‘White-tailed deer’

  • They are the smallest members of the North American deer family.
  • Scientific name — Odocoileus virginianus
  • Distribution — They are found in North America from southern Canada through Central America.
  • Habitat —
      • Includes areas along streams and rivers, mixed woodlands, farms, forests, and burned shrub fields.
      • Open areas are used only when thick shrubs or forests are nearby.
  • Features —
      • It is tan or brown in the summer and grayish brown in winter.
      • It has white on its throat, around its eyes and nose,  on its stomach, and on the underside of its tail.
      • Only male deer grow antlers, which are shed each year.
  • They are excellent runners. They can run at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour.
  • IUCN Status: ‘Least Concern