Common name: Sitka Deer
Scientific name: Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis
Family: Cervidae

Size:
Body length: 120–180 cm
Shoulder height: 80–100 cm
Weight: 45–120 kg

Identification:
A relatively small and compact subspecies of mule deer with a dense coat adapted for cold, wet climates. The fur is dark brown to reddish-brown in summer and becomes greyer and thicker in winter. It has large ears typical of mule deer and a white rump patch with a short tail tipped in black. Males grow branched antlers that are shed annually.

Habitat:
Temperate coastal rainforests, dense conifer forests, wetlands, and forest edges.

Native Range:
Southeast Alaska and parts of coastal British Columbia.

Diet:
Herbivorous — feeds on leaves, grasses, shrubs, lichens, and forest vegetation.

Behavior:
Mostly crepuscular, being most active during dawn and dusk. Agile and well adapted to dense forests and rugged terrain. Usually solitary or found in small groups. Strong swimmers and capable of crossing channels between islands.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)