KEY DEER 



Odocoileus virginianus clavium Barbour and Allen 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS Mammalia 



ORDER Artiodactyla 



FAMILY Cervidae 



OTHER COMMON NAMES toy deer 



DATE 



Entered into SWIS to be determined 



Updates 15 October 1976, 4 March 1977 



LEGAL STATUS 



Federal: Endangered (32 FR 4000, 11 March 

 1977) 



States: Endangered: Florida. 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



Loss of habitat to development of Lower Keys 

 is the primary reason for the deer's current status. 

 Big Pine Key supports some two-thirds of the 

 total population, and 37% of this island had been 

 cleared for development as of 1973 (Klimstra et 

 al. 1974). The human population of the keys is 

 projected to increase by 48% by 1990, implying 

 even more loss of deer habitat. 



Other factors include mortality of young 

 falling into drainage ditches and being killed by 

 automobiles. Overhunting with dogs and jack- 

 lights (U.S. Department of the Interior 1973) was 

 probably an important factor in the 1940's and 

 1950's, and reports of poaching are still rather 

 frequent (Klimstra et al. 1974). 



PRIORITY INDEX 



Not assigned. 



