WHITE DEER
I've seen these deer many times in the morning from 101 and up close when visiting friends near Ridgewood Ranch. They are so cool.
I've seen these deer many times in the morning from 101 and up close when visiting friends near Ridgewood Ranch. They are so cool.
Spotting fallow or white deer is a special treat for most area residents. Usually they are glimpsed out of the corner of one's eye as you speed down Highway 101 on the Ridgewood Grade.
While these deer are not native to the area, they have been a local fixture since 1949. The herds band together in familial groups of from 10 to 40 depending upon forage. They were first brought to the area by Charles Howard of Seabiscuit fame. He purchased them from William Randolph Hearst's zoolike residence in San Simeon. They escaped from captivity and have made their home in the area for more than 70 years.
Fallow deer , or Dama dama, are one of the most commonly domesticated deer in the world. The species originated in Turkey and Iraq and was brought to England by the Romans.
Mendocino County's fallow deer are born a light brown with white spots and become a light cream color in their first year. The deer coats typically darken during the winter.
The males have palmate or flattened antlers, which they shed each winter. Males and females make sounds similar to a dog's bark when distressed. (photo by Steve Eberhard)
While these deer are not native to the area, they have been a local fixture since 1949. The herds band together in familial groups of from 10 to 40 depending upon forage. They were first brought to the area by Charles Howard of Seabiscuit fame. He purchased them from William Randolph Hearst's zoolike residence in San Simeon. They escaped from captivity and have made their home in the area for more than 70 years.
Fallow deer , or Dama dama, are one of the most commonly domesticated deer in the world. The species originated in Turkey and Iraq and was brought to England by the Romans.
Mendocino County's fallow deer are born a light brown with white spots and become a light cream color in their first year. The deer coats typically darken during the winter.
The males have palmate or flattened antlers, which they shed each winter. Males and females make sounds similar to a dog's bark when distressed. (photo by Steve Eberhard)
