{"id":843,"date":"2023-01-09T20:10:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-09T20:10:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinggiants.org\/?p=843"},"modified":"2023-04-07T17:39:43","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T17:39:43","slug":"how-fast-can-a-deer-run","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinggiants.org\/how-fast-can-a-deer-run\/","title":{"rendered":"How Fast Can A Deer Run Compared To Other (Wild) Animals?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You need only assess the whitetail deer\u2019s natural predators to get a good idea of how fast these creatures are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From cougars to bears to, well\u2026 us, they need to be able to outrun some bonafide speed demons if they\u2019re to survive in their natural habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Luckily for them, their species has already gone through millions of years of rigorous natural selection and adaptation, giving them the best possible chance of escaping danger when necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, just like humans, we have to take individual differences into account when contemplating the speed of an entire species of deer; we\u2019re not all as quick as Usain Bolt after all! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, generally speaking, when they\u2019re really bucking<\/em> it (pun definitely intended), it\u2019s not unheard of for an adult whitetail to reach speeds of between 35 and 40 miles per hour \u2014 Pretty impressive, ay?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, deer automatically know to conserve their energy, meaning they\u2019ll rarely put their hoof to the metal and run all out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These majestic animals enjoy a variety of gaits that permit travel at any speed up to the highest range possible in accordance with various factors, such as age, infirmity, and strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span>How Are Deer Able To Run So Quickly?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already touched upon natural selection, but let\u2019s go into more detail about how it works and relates to the speed of modern day deer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s say there is a herd of deer foraging in the forest when, suddenly, a grizzly bear shows up (ahhh!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The deer instinctively know that it\u2019s time to run like hell, so off they go, bounding into the woods at top speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the bear buffs out there will know that, despite their heft, these ferocious hunters are pretty quick on their feet too, so we\u2019ve got a thrilling chase on our hands, but the bear needn\u2019t catch up with the fastest of the herd, for as long as he catches one deer, it gets a hearty meal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speedy Genes Survive<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

So, the bear catches and kills the slowest member of the herd, thereby removing them from the gene pool, meaning they won\u2019t be able to procreate and form more sluggish deer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fast deer that got away, on the other hand, procreate like crazy, passing down their super speedy genes to super speedy fawns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, this process creates highly specialized animals, perfectly designed to handle the rigors of their habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the same thing is happening for our old friend the bear, so, in effect, what\u2019s actually going on here is a perpetual evolutionary arms race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deer Physiology: What Allows Them To Run So Fast?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Natural selection is an astounding process, but let\u2019s focus up on the outcome of this survival of the fittest lifestyle and uncover what specific aspects of deer physiology make them such rapid animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For any creature, speed is largely determined by muscle fibers, most of which fall into one of two categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n