Columbian White-tailed Deer 3454963 212769215 2008-05-16T04:20:23Z Hesperian 111359 add status system using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] {{Taxobox | name = Columbian White-tailed Deer | image = R1 white-tailedDeer.jpg | image_caption=[[Columbian white-tailed deer]] | status = LR/nt | status_system = IUCN2.3 | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Artiodactyla]] | familia = [[Cervidae]] | genus = ''[[Odocoileus]]'' | species = ''[[White-tailed Deer|O. virginianus]]'' | subspecies = '''''O. v. leucurus''''' | trinomial = ''Odocoileus virginianus leucurus'' | trinomial_authority = Douglas, 1829 }} The '''Columbian White-tailed Deer''' ('''''Odocoileus virginianus leucurus''''') is one of 3 [[subspecies]] of [[White-tailed Deer|white-tailed deer]] in North America. It is a member of the [[Deer|Cervidae]] (deer) family, which includes [[Mule Deer|mule deer]], [[Red Deer|elk]], [[moose]], [[caribou]], and the [[black-tailed deer]] that lives nearby. ==Habitat and description== The Columbian White-tailed Deer is named after the [[Columbia River]] in [[Oregon]] and [[Washington]] where they congregate. Columbian White-tailed Deer are found along the lower Columbia River, on a series of islands in [[Clatsop County, Oregon|Clatsop]] and [[Columbia County, Oregon|Columbia]] counties in Oregon, and [[Wahkiakum County]] in Washington.<ref name=natureConservancy>{{cite web | title = The Nature Conservancy: Robert W. Little (Puget Island) Preserve | url = http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/preserves/art6366.html | accessdate = 2007-10-29}}</ref> Other populations are found in the valley floors of the [[Umpqua River]] basin. The White-tailed Deer usually live in and around [[riparian]] areas. They can also be found in brushy woodlots that contain [[cottonwood]], [[willow]], [[alder]], [[spruce]] and [[dogwood]] trees. Unlike other white-tailed deer subspecies, which may [[breed]] at six months of age, female Columbian White-tailed Deer first breed at about 18 months; they commonly have a single [[fawn]]. Male deer, or bucks, are also capable of breeding at 18 months of age. ==Conservation status== The Columbian White-tailed Deer was federally listed as an endangered species in [[Washington]] and [[Oregon]] in 1967. Upon the creation of the [[Endangered Species Act]], in 1978 the deer was federally recognized as being [[endangered]]. On [[July 24]], [[2003]], after decades of trying to save the Columbian White-tailed Deer, the [[Douglas County, Oregon]] population of deer was removed from the Endangered Species Act. Efforts were carried out by the Oregon Department of [[Fish and Wildlife Service]], and the [[Bureau of Land Management]]. Population numbers ranged from about 2,500 in the early 1980s to more than 6,000 today. It should be noted though that the deer in one region have been removed from the Act, whereas the Columbian White-tailed Deer overall still remains on the Endangered Species Act. The ''[[Julia Butler Hansen]]'' refuge, located in [[Cathlamet, Washington]] offers critical habitat protection for the Columbian White-tailed Deer. Currently, about 300 Columbian white-tailed deer are protected on the refuge. ==See also== * [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service list of endangered species]] ==References== <div class="references-small"> * {{IUCN2006|assessors=Deer Specialist Group|year=1996|id=15113|title=Odocoileus virginianus ssp. leucurus|downloaded=11 May 2006}} *{{ITIS|ID=202408|taxon=Odocoileus virginianus leucurus|year=2006|date=7 July}} </div> {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ASV/is_1_29/ai_118185263 Restoring the Columbian white-tailed deer] * [http://www.dfw.state.or.us/ODFWhtml/InfoCntrWild/PDFs/BKGWhiteTail.pdf The Columbian White-tailed Deer and the Oregon Endangered Species Act] [[Category:Deer]] [[Category:Mammals of the United States]] [[Category:Fauna of the Western United States]]