What led to the near-obliteration of O. virginianus by the late 1800s?

Answer

Unregulated market hunting and habitat destruction

The population history of the white-tailed deer experienced a severe, rapid selective pressure event caused directly by human activity leading up to the early 1900s. During this period, the species faced widespread near-obliteration across much of its original geographic range. The primary drivers of this massive decline were two interconnected factors: unregulated market hunting, which exploited the population unsustainably, and extensive habitat destruction, which reduced the available resources and cover necessary for survival. This intense, sudden pressure contrasts sharply with the slow, long-term climatic shifts that shaped their anatomy over millions of years.

What led to the near-obliteration of O. virginianus by the late 1800s?

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