Deer

Deer are elegant and resilient members of the Cervidae family, with two main subspecies in California: mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and black-tailed deer (O. h. columbianus). They inhabit oak woodlands, foothills, riparian areas, and many of the state’s national parks. As browsers, deer feed seasonally on shrubs, grasses, fruits, and lichens. Their life cycle includes a late-fall rutting season and fawning in late spring or early summer.

In California, deer face natural threats from mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, and black bears. Diseases and parasites—such as ticks, lungworms, botflies, and the recently detected Chronic Wasting Disease—pose additional risks. Human activity has long influenced deer: from traditional Native American hunting to modern urban expansion, habitat loss, and targeted bucks-only harvest policies. Forest management practices and prolonged drought have further reduced suitable habitat, contributing to a dramatic decline in the state’s deer population—from nearly 2 million in the 1960s to about 475,000 today. While many deer herds continue to shrink, those in suburbs and agricultural zones may be holding steady. 

Understanding these dynamics helps inform smart wildlife management practices and encourages responsible stewardship of California’s deer populations.