Deer are common wildlife often observed in various landscapes, from dense forests to suburban backyards. While their activity during dawn and dusk is widely recognized, their daytime behaviors are equally complex and contribute significantly to their survival. Understanding what deer do during the day provides insights into their adaptability and strategies for thriving. This article explores their daily routines, resting locations, and how external factors shape their behavior.
Daily Routines and Foraging
During daylight hours, deer engage in feeding, movement, and maintaining awareness of their surroundings. Though most active at twilight, deer do move and forage during the day, particularly when traveling between bedding and feeding areas. They typically return from nighttime feeding grounds to their chosen bedding areas between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Once in wooded areas, deer may browse on vegetation for about 30 minutes before settling down.
Deer are herbivores, browsing on a diverse diet including woody plants, shrubs, briars, vines, forbs, grasses, fruits, nuts, and agricultural crops. They need to consume approximately 6% to 8% of their body weight in green foliage and browse daily to maintain health. This dietary requirement means they continuously search for nutrient-rich food when not resting.
Throughout the day, deer remain vigilant, constantly scanning for predators. Their eyes are set back, allowing them to see what they are eating while monitoring surroundings. An acute sense of smell helps them identify palatable foods and detect threats. Social interactions, such as does with fawns, can occur, and deer may travel alone or in groups depending on the season and social status.
Choosing Resting Spots
Deer spend a significant portion of their daytime resting, a behavior known as bedding. Deer select these spots based on safety, comfort, and resource proximity. They typically choose areas with dense cover, such as thickets, underbrush, or tree stands, which provide visual concealment from predators. Bedding areas often resemble oval depressions in the grass or soil, indicating where a deer has laid down.
These locations are often near food and water sources, minimizing energy expenditure for foraging. Deer may also select elevated positions that offer a clear view, allowing them to detect approaching threats. When bedding, deer groom, chew cud for digestion, and take short periods of sleep. Even when resting, they remain highly alert, capable of waking instantly, and often position themselves with the wind at their back to detect danger.
Deer do not usually use the exact same bedding area daily. They often have several potential sites within their home range, changing based on factors like shading, wind direction, and food proximity. For instance, in winter, they may favor south-facing slopes for warmth, while in summer, they seek shaded areas to escape heat.
How Environment Shapes Their Day
Environmental factors significantly influence deer’s daytime activities, leading to routine variations. Seasonal changes play a role; for example, deer may be more active in spring and fall due to metabolic demands and food availability. In contrast, summer heat can lead to increased daytime resting in shaded areas. Conversely, colder temperatures can encourage more movement.
Weather conditions also affect deer behavior. Heavy winds or intense rainfall cause deer to seek cover. However, a slow, drizzling rain might prompt more movement, as moisture can muffle sounds, allowing quieter travel. Barometric pressure changes also influence activity, with deer often moving more when the barometer rises or falls.
Human presence significantly shapes deer daytime activity. Moderate to heavy human activity can significantly reduce deer’s daytime movement, leading them to adopt more nocturnal behaviors to avoid disturbance. In areas with less human pressure, deer, including mature bucks, are more likely to move during daylight hours. This adaptability allows deer to coexist with humans.