Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

contact also is avoided. Dominant animals may use various postures to
signal their intentions. A common posture is a direct stare coupled
with dropping the ears back along the neck. When a dominant animal
makes this posture, the subordinate usually will retreat from the area
or refrain from the behavior that elicited this signal.
Researchers have categorized body language into two postures.
These are “high head” postures and “low head” postures (Hirth 1973).
High head postures indicate willingness to rear and flail at another
deer, while a low head posture indicates willingness to confront and
chase. Among does, when two deer of the same social standing fail to
back down in the face of threat postures, both may rear and flail at each
other violently. Does also use the rearing and flailing behavior to drive
away yearlings during the breeding season and fawning period.
Bucks of similar age and social ranking may engage in intense fighting in
an attempt to assert their dominance. The frequency of these confrontations
increases during the breeding season. Photo by Jeff Shaw.
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