White-tailed deer, the kind found in
Massachusetts and across most of the United States, are the widest-ranging
ungulate in the Americas, from as far south as Bolivia to as far north as
southern Canada. To cover such diverse territory and climates, white-tailed
deer have a variety of adaptations and behaviors, including those that allow
them to survive harsh winter weather that is common in New England.
Like many other mammals, deer physically
prepare for the winter by
better insulating their bodies. In the fall, deer gradually trade their summer
hair coat for a winter one, which consists of thicker, longer, and darker hairs
called guard hairs, while also growing in a much thicker undercoat.
This winter coat absorbs more sunlight and
traps more body heat than the summer coat, and provides an extraordinary amount
of protection from the cold. Deer also have oil-producing glands in their skin
that help make their hair water repellent, which is especially valuable in the
snow. For further insulation, their bodies also begin to retain more fat in
layers during the fall.
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