🦌 White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
About
The classic two-part heart-shaped print. Deer trails often braid through the same soft ground night after night.
Track
2–3.5 in long (bucks larger). Two crescent halves forming a heart or split teardrop. Pointed end shows direction of travel. Sometimes two small dew claw dots behind in mud or snow. No toe pads or claw marks.
Where they live
Forest edges, farm fields, riverbanks, suburban gardens. Most of North America east of the Rockies, plus scattered western ranges.
When they're active
Crepuscular — dawn and dusk, plus moonlit nights
What they eat
Herbivore: leaves, acorns, grasses, twigs, your tulips
Fun fact
Deer can rotate their ears independently to pinpoint sound without moving at all.
Should I be concerned?
Usually harmless — give them space, especially in autumn rut and around spring fawns. Watch for them on roads.