Deer are mammals with branched horns called antlers. There
are many kinds of deer, and they live on every continent except Australia and
Antarctica. Reindeer, elk, and white-tailed deer are among the most common
kinds. The largest deer is the moose, which stands over 7 feet (2.1 meters)
tall. The pudu of South America is the smallest deer. Some pudus measure only
10 inches (25 centimeters) high at the shoulder.
Many deer live in wooded areas. They feed on leaves, twigs,
bark, and the buds of bushes and young trees. Some deer live in more open areas
and eat grass.
Deer tend to move about in groups, or herds. Female deer,
called does, usually band together with their young. The young deer are called
fawns. The male deer, or bucks, usually travel alone. But bucks sometimes band
together, too, especially during migration.
Deer shed their bony antlers every winter. The antlers fall
off, and they grow new ones in spring and summer. During breeding season, bucks
battle each other with their antlers. They fight over female mates.