Ungulates of Hawaiʻi

Axis Deer (Axis axis)

Hawaiʻi range: Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui

Region of origin: India

Date of first introduction: 1867 (Molokaʻi), between 1868 to 1898 (Oʻahu), 1920 (Lānaʻi), 1959 (Maui)

Average size: Female - 45 kg, Male - 72 kg

Litter frequency: 1 litter per year

Litter size: 1 fawn (twinning rare)

Home range: Female - 13.44 ± 5.5 km , Male - 13.85 ± 4.7 km

Diet: Opportunistic grazer on vegetation

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References: Tomich 1986, Anderson 2003

Identifying Markers

Physical Appearance: Reddish-brown coat with white spots year-round, a long tail with white underside (raised when alarmed), and slightly smaller ears than Black-tailed Deer.

Tracks: Hoof Prints are about 2–3 inches long, broad, heart-shaped with slight splay, demonstrating walking or bounding patterns.

Scat: Droppings are small, rounded pellets, tightly clustered piles, often found in open grassy areas and mixed forest edges.

Feeding Signs: Feeds on a wide variety of grasses, crops, shrubs, with a browsing height up to 4–4.5 feet, and similar clean twig snipping as Black-tailed Deer (45 degree angled snips), but more generalist feeding behavior.

Environmental Impacts

Axis deer in Hawaiʻi, found on islands like Maui, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island, cause widespread environmental damage due to their large herds, rapid population growth, and broad diet. Unlike the more selective black-tailed deer, axis deer graze and browse, leading to overgrazing, soil erosion, and sediment runoff that harms watersheds and reefs. They also damage crops, compete with livestock, and outcompete native species, making them a serious threat to both ecosystems and agriculture.