Whitetail Deer Are Strong Swimmers

Today I am sharing a video I took of three Whitetail Bucks crossing Reeves Slough, which is at the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma (February 20, 2024). Whitetail deer swimming ability often surprises people, especially when they see how confidently deer move through open water.

I was sitting on the fishing pier waiting for the deer to cross at a different location where I have been photographing them on prior visits to this refuge (Patterning Whitetail Bucks | Insights for Wildlife Photographers and Whitetail Antler Shedding: A Painless Process?). For some reason, they crossed at a different location, which I discovered this past Friday, so I was watching for them.

Deer Swimming Ability Explained:

• Whitetail deer are surprisingly accomplished swimmers, capable of reaching speeds of up to 15 mph in water. They have been known to easily cross rivers more than half a mile wide and can swim long distances, with some individuals traveling as far as five miles out to sea.
• Fawns can also swim, but they don’t have as much energy as their parents and can’t travel as far. They become exhausted quickly.
• Deer primarily swim to escape danger, find better resources, or to get rid of ticks and fleas. Pregnant females may swim to reach a small island where they can safely deliver and protect their fawns.
• Whitetail deer have a unique two-layered coat that ensures they stay safe and insulated in the water. The undercoat preserves heat, while the topcoat creates buoyancy, allowing the deer to stay afloat and conserve energy. Their powerful hind legs provide the propulsion needed to swim through the water efficiently.

In summary, whitetail deer are strong and versatile swimmers. They are capable of swimming long distances and often use water to escape danger or reach better resources. Their confidence in the water is something many people do not expect until they see it firsthand.

Their unique coat and powerful legs play a major role in this ability. The undercoat helps with insulation, while the topcoat adds buoyancy. Strong hind legs provide steady propulsion, allowing deer to move through water efficiently and with surprising ease.

I documented another deer swimming encounter at Charleston City Lake in Arkansas in a separate post.