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Black-tailed Deer

Scientific: Odocoileus hemionus
Spanish: Ciervo de cola negra
Awaswas: Tote, Tooche

Diet: Grasses, shrubs, berries, lichen
Habitat: Grasslands, forests, woodlands
California Status: Least Concern

Deer are most active in the evening and early morning when they venture into open spaces to graze on grasses and other plants. During the day and night, they often seek cover under the canopy in forests or woodlands. Deer are an important food source for large predators like mountain lions. If predator populations decline, deer populations can boom, causing over-grazing of grasslands.

What relationship do you think humans have with deer, both historically, and today?