Whitetail Deer Change Colors with the Seasons

Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are found throughout Texas in woodland and prairie habitats. When seasons change, the color of their coat alters to help them blend with the vegetation colors that predominate in different seasons. The above picture shows a doe in normal spring and summer coat.

The doe above shows some variation in distribution of white and brown hairs on her summer pelage. This is an example of an inherited change which if successful will rise in frequency of occurrence in the deer population.

The third deer is a doe displaying the gray shades of the winter coat. Anyone who has been in the Texas deciduous forests during winter can see how gray would be an advantage for concealment.

For an animal as large and as tasty to predators, whitetail deer benefit from protective coloration. Females need to be unseen especially when they have fawns or adolescents with them.