The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), native to North America, is one of the most recognizable and widespread deer species. With its reddish-brown summer coat and distinctive white underside to its tail, this deer captivates visitors with its elegance and agility.

Zoos replicate forested habitats for white-tailed deer, providing them with a mix of open spaces for grazing and wooded areas for shade and cover. Visitors enjoy observing their alert movements and social behaviors, particularly during the fawning season when playful young deer are born.

Educational displays in zoos teach about the ecological role of deer in forest ecosystems and the challenges of managing populations in the wild. While abundant in some areas, they face habitat fragmentation and vehicle collisions in others, making zoos an important platform for awareness.