Holocene white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from the foothills northwest of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

The first subfossil antlers of Odocoileus virginianus from Alberta are described. They were associated with fragmentary postcranial and dental remains referred to the same species and obtained from an Alberta foothills bison bone bed (Hitching Post Ranch site) 3600 radiocarbon years old. Those antlers with burrs present had been shed, suggesting derivation from resident deer, and no conclusive evidence for human predation is present. It is argued that white-tailed deer remains have potential as indicators of paleoclimatic conditions, particularly severity of winter snow.