Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 07:00:38 -0700 (PDT)
From: Kit Donner
Subject: Small deer sounds like a Key deer, from Florida Keys
Come on people – you know the jackalope is a “myth” perpetuated by clever taxidermists. There is a species of deer in the Florida Keys that because of limited space and forage has evolved to be very small, about the size described. I don’t know how or why Florida Key deer would be wild in this area but certainly it is possible that some have been brought here and released on purpose or accidentally, Or migrated here. Or that overpopulation has lead to mutation separately but similarly among the local whitetails.
There are also numerous small deer and antelope of that size around the world, and probably some in the zoo in Asheboro, but that seems less likely.