Do white-tailed deer have vocalizations?
Yes, deer make various vocalizations. The sounds generally can be placed into the following groups: alarm, maternal, reproductive. Alarm calls When a deer is surprised, it will snort by forcing out air rapidly from the nostrils. When fawns or young adults are captured by a predator or trapped, they will make a bleating or groaning sound. Alarm calls help to warn other deer of real or perceived danger. Maternal calls Does use low grunts to communicate with her young and to maintain contact. Fawns respond with a mew like sound. Fawns will also use bleats to get attention from the maternal doe. Communication between does and young help to maintain a close pair bond Reproductive calls Bucks make grunt sounds while searching for receptive does and while tending does. Bucks advertise their presence to prospective does and potential competitive bucks with grunts of varying pitch and volume. For more information, please contact: Wildlife and Heritage Service Maryland Department of Natural Reso
