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Entries for June 2023
What's In a Name?
By Bob Humphrey
Did you ever wonder how whitetails got their scientific name? QUESTION: Not sure this is actually a biology question, but I've always wondered how white-tailed deer got their scientific name. What does it mean? ANSWER: Scientists use a system know as binomial nomenclature to assign unique (Latin-based) scientific names to all species. Under this sy... READ MORE
White Out
By Bob Humphrey
Shooting a white deer can get you a ticket in some places. QUESTION: I’ve been seeing an albino deer in one of the places I hunt and was planning on trying to hunt for it this fall. Then someone told me it is illegal to shoot white deer. I’m wondering if this is true, and why. ANSWER: Whether it’s legal or not to shoot white deer (which includes tr... READ MORE
The Light in Their Eyes
By Bob Humphrey
Eye shine has a rational explanation. QUESTION: Why do deer’s eyes shine at night, and can you tell an animal species by the color of the reflection? ANSWER: White-tailed deer have several adaptations that give them much better night vision than humans, all of which are important for a prey species. One is called a tapetum lucidum. It is a reflecti... READ MORE
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
By Bob Humphrey
Clumps of deer hair in the spring might not mean what you think. QUESTION: This spring during turkey season I found quite a few patches of deer hair on the ground. I looked around but didn’t find any bones or carcass. What do you think could have killed a deer then dragged it off whole? ANSWER: You neglected to mention where you live, which could l... READ MORE