Hawaiʻi range: Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Maui

Region of origin: India

Date of first introduction: 1867 (Molokaʻi),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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Axis Deer (Axis axis)

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: 2–3 inch long, cloven hoof-prints

Scat: Small, dark brown or black, 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

Environmental Impacts

Axis deer in Hawaiʻi, widespread across all three islands of Maui Nui, cause extensive environmental, agricultural, and public safety impacts. Their large herd sizes, rapid population growth, and broad diet lead to intense grazing and browsing pressure. In many areas, overpopulation has resulted in severe overgrazing, fundamentally altering ecosystem function. This disturbance promotes the spread of weedy, fire-adapted species, increasing fuel loads, and further impacting farmers and ranchers by increasing wildfire risk and reducing the productivity and viability of pasture and agricultural lands. Axis deer also cause significant soil erosion and sediment runoff, which degrade watersheds and nearshore reef systems. Additionally, they damage crops, outcompete livestock for forage, and pose serious safety risks due to frequent vehicle collisions and documented incursions onto airport runways.

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Identifying Markers

Environmental Impacts