White Tailed Deer
(Odocolilius virginianus)
Habitat: Minnesota native. Ranges through North and South America. Edges of woodlands where trees offer protection and nearby meadows offer quality food.
Vitals: 3 to 3.5 feet at shoulder. 100 to 300 lbs. Females smaller than males. Brownish gray to reddish-brown depending on season. Life span 10 years in the wild, 20 in captivity.
Diet: Grasses, weeds, shrubs, twigs, mushrooms, nuts and lichens.
Breeding: Gestation is 200 days, 1 or 2 young (occasionally 3) born at less than 5 lbs. Spotted at birth. Weaned at 6 weeks, adult at 2 years.
Behavior/Adaptions: Males have antlers that have a main beam with minor branches. Antlers shed in March and regrown in fall. Does hide fawns while nursing and return every 4 hours to feed them. Crepuscular (active at twilight and dawn). Normally solitary found in herds when food is short.
At the PGZ: #14R female, B-1998, #15R female, B-1998, #77WH female, B-2005, #78WH female, B-2005, #79WH female, B-2005.
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Wild Turkey
(Meleagris gallopavo)
Habitat: Minnesota native. Northern Mexico and the entire eastern portion of North America. Edges of forests by open prairies.
Vitals: Males weigh 16-21 lbs, while females average 9 lbs. Bronzy, iridescent body plumage with black-tipped breast feathers, with buff-colored feathers on the tips of the wing. Male has large wattle at the base of the bill. Tuft of bristles on chest. Featherless head. Life span of up to 12 years.
Breeding: Males raise their tail feathers in a vertical fan during courtship and aggressive display. Nests are built of dried leaves and grasses. 9-18 creamy white eggs with red-brown speckles are laid in a clutch.
Behavior/Adaptions: Strong fliers, turkeys also run at speeds up to 15 MPH. They have well defined pecking orders inside the flock.
Additional Info: Flocks are usually segregated by sex and age. Females will create their own flock with new offspring. Male flock will be seperated by age.
At the PGZ: Currently 8
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