Post your best current shots

[PatrickH]

key deer.

shot with 5dii and 24-105 @ 24mm

Wow, shot at 24mm. How did you get so close?

[nvitalephotography]

Wow, shot at 24mm. How did you get so close?

Key deer are endemic to just a couple of islands in the Florida keys and therefore are extremely well protected. Which means the deer have no fear of people and will walk right up to you.

[Busted Knuckles]

Key deer are endemic to just a couple of islands in the Florida keys and therefore are extremely well protected. Which means the deer have no fear of people and will walk right up to you.

This demonstrates the value of good public relations - Key Deer are technically an invasive species - stunted Virginia White Tails - and could be eradicated pretty quickly but.... there so much like Bambi.... unlike the Norwegian Wood Rat. :P

[nvitalephotography]

This demonstrates the value of good public relations - Key Deer are technically an invasive species - stunted Virginia White Tails - and could be eradicated pretty quickly but.... there so much like Bambi.... unlike the Norwegian Wood Rat. :P

They are considered a subspecies of the White tail deer, and they are believed to be small because of stunting due limited resources on the islands. So yes, they are classified as the same species. However they have been in the keys and small in size since long before people were here so to call them an invasive species is simply incorrect and so would eradication, as they do play a vital role in the local ecosystem. (more info here for anyone interested)

They do tend to spark a lot of debate among people though, an interesting study has been done about this conflict.