Black-tailed deer are among the largest animals living on Peninsula Watershed lands.
Native to the Central Coast range, this species of deer is distinguished from others by its smaller body size and tail markings. With their red-brown summer coat and gray-brown winter coat, these deer blend well into the tall grasses and shrubs at the forest edge and in coastal scrub. You may not ever see them, but black-tailed deer are here.
Deer play an important role in the region’s ecosystem. They are the primary food source for mountain lions. As a result, deer are constantly on the lookout for danger. Exceptional hearing and vision, especially in the dark, enable them to detect danger from a distance. Nimble on their hooves, they can escape quickly.
Touch the three animal tracks. Can you determine which is a deer, mountain lion, and coyote?
Deer tracks have two-hoofed toes shaped like a heart. Mountain lion tracks are round with a three-lobed rear pad. Coyote tracks are smaller with a triangular rear pad.
Coyote tracks reveal claw marks, but mountain lion tracks do not. Like most cats, mountain lions retract their claws when moving to keep them sharp.