South Carolina State Animal – White-Tailed Deer

South Carolina SC Facts & Firsts SC State Symbols SC State Animal The White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can be seen bounding through South Carolina's woods year-round. They are plentiful in our state, and in 1972 the legislature named them the official state animal. Ten other states recognize the White-tailed Deer as their state animal, too!



Both the female (called a doe) and the male (called a buck) have white tails and necks, but for much of the year males can be distinguished by the presence of antlers. Young deer, called fawns, have white spots for the first few months, then take on the typical reddish-brown coloration of adults. When startled, the deer will often raise their tails in the air to show the white underside, which can serve as an alarm signal to other deer. This is also known as "flagging," and makes it easier for fawns to follow their mother if she senses danger.



White-tailed Deer are often observed leaping over fences with ease – they are capable of running quite fast and are also good swimmers. White-tailed deer are herbivores, meaning they eat only plants. They adapt to their surrounding vegetation which varies based on season and the area they live in. Fawns are dependent on their mothers for the first few weeks and will lay hidden in brush while she forages.

More about the White-tailed Deer

• White-tailed Deer Profile from National Geographic - scroll down to "multimedia" then click to hear a recording of the deer
• Life cycle, behavior, habitat, and range - includes photos
• Deer FAQ's – SC Department of Natural Resources - answers to hunting questions, what to do if you find an orphaned fawn, and what to do if you hit a deer