* Tapetum Lucidum: Deer, like many nocturnal animals, have a reflective layer behind their retinas called the tapetum lucidum. This layer reflects light back through the retina, enhancing their ability to see in low light conditions.
* Rods: Deer have more rods than cones in their eyes. Rods are responsible for detecting light and movement, while cones are responsible for color vision. This means deer are better at detecting movement and shapes in low light than colors.
* Large Pupils: Deer have large pupils that dilate even further in the dark, letting in more light.
While their night vision is excellent, it's not perfect. Deer still see less clearly at night than during the day. They are also colorblind and have difficulty seeing fine details.
Here's what you should know about deer vision at night:
* They see movement well: This is why it's important to be very still when hunting or if you encounter deer at night.
* They see shapes, but not details: Deer may struggle to distinguish small objects or fine details in the dark.
* They see in shades of gray: Deer are colorblind and see the world in shades of gray.
Overall, while deer see much better at night than humans, they still rely on their other senses, like hearing and smell, to navigate and avoid danger.