Endangered New Jersey: Deer in Velvet
Photo Credit: Endangered New Jersey
Now is the time that you can see male deer in NJ showing new antlers.
Each antler grows from an attachment point on the skull called a pedicle. While an antler is growing, it is covered with highly vascular skin called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone. Growth occurs at the tip, and is initially cartilage, which is mineralized to become bone. Once the antler has achieved its full size, the velvet is lost and the antler's bone dies. This dead bone structure is the mature antler.
Posted by WILDNEWJERSEY at 7/28/2011 10:00 AM 
Categories: Wildlife
Tags: deer antlers wildlife hunting summer
Categories: Wildlife
Tags: deer antlers wildlife hunting summer
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