White-tailed Deer Sounds

What sound does a white-tailed deer make?

White-tailed deer are quiet most of the time, but they have a striking alarm call: a loud, sharp snort — often called 'blowing' — made by forcing air through the nostrils. One snort can send every deer in the area bounding away with white tails flashing.

Deer also bleat softly: fawns bleat to call their mothers, and does grunt gently to their fawns. In autumn, bucks make deep grunts and loud rattling sounds with their antlers as they compete during the rut.

About the White-tailed Deer

The white-tailed deer is a medium-sized deer native to North and South America. Known for their reddish-brown summer coat that turns grayish in winter, these deer get their name from the distinctive white underside of their tail, which they raise as a warning flag when alarmed. White-tailed deer are excellent jumpers, capable of leaping up to 30 feet in a single bound. They are herbivores, feeding on a variety of plants, fruits, and nuts. Bucks (male deer) grow and shed their antlers annually, using them for displays of dominance and fighting during the mating season.

White-tailed Deer questions

What sound does a deer make?

Deer snort loudly when alarmed, bleat softly between mothers and fawns, and bucks grunt during the autumn rut. Most of the time, though, deer stay silent.

Why do deer snort?

The loud snort — or 'blow' — clears the deer's nose to catch scents better and warns every deer nearby that danger may be close.