* Carotene: This is a type of pigment that gives plants their orange and yellow colors. It's also found in other foods like carrots and sweet potatoes.
* Diet: Deer primarily eat plants. If their diet consists of a high proportion of plants rich in carotene, like grasses and clover, the carotene will be absorbed into their body and deposited in their fat. This results in the yellow color.
* Time of Year: The color of deer fat can also vary depending on the season. During the fall, when deer are consuming a diet rich in carotene-rich plants, their fat is more likely to be yellow. In the spring, their diet changes, and their fat may be less yellow.
Other Factors:
* Breed: Some breeds of deer, such as fallow deer, are known to have naturally yellow fat.
* Age: Older deer may have yellower fat due to a lifetime of consuming carotene-rich plants.
* Health: While not directly related, a deer's overall health can affect the color of its fat.
Note: A healthy deer with yellow fat is perfectly normal. It doesn't necessarily indicate any health issues.