Mule Deer | nieoo

General Information

The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a species of deer native to North America.
It is named for its large ears, which resemble those of a mule.
Mule deer are found in western North America, including the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
They are herbivores, primarily feeding on leaves, shrubs, and grasses.
Mule deer are well known for their unique bounding gait, called "stotting," where they leap with all four legs.

Males, known as bucks, can weigh between 55 to 150 kg (120 to 330 lbs).
Females, called does, are smaller, weighing around 43 to 90 kg (95 to 200 lbs).
Their height at the shoulder ranges from 80 to 105 cm (31 to 41 inches).
Mule deer have a grayish-brown coat in winter and a reddish-brown coat in summer.
They have a distinctive white rump patch with a black-tipped tail.
Bucks grow large, forked antlers that they shed and regrow annually.

Mule deer live in a variety of habitats, including mountains, forests, deserts, and grasslands.
They are highly adaptable and can survive in harsh climates.
They migrate seasonally, moving to higher elevations in summer and lower valleys in winter.
Mule deer have excellent vision and can detect movement from long distances.
They rely on their keen sense of smell and hearing to detect predators.

Mule deer are herbivores and eat leaves, twigs, shrubs, berries, and grasses.
They are selective feeders, preferring nutrient-rich plants over low-quality forage.
They feed mostly during dawn and dusk to avoid predators.
Mule deer have a complex, multi-chambered stomach to digest fibrous plant material efficiently.

Mule deer are social animals and typically live in small herds.
Females and their young form groups, while males often live alone or in bachelor groups.
During the mating season, bucks become territorial and compete for females.
They communicate through body language, vocalizations, and scent markings.

The breeding season (rut) occurs in late fall, usually from October to December.
Bucks compete for does by engaging in antler fights.
After a gestation period of about 200 days, does give birth to one or two fawns in late spring or early summer.
Fawns are born with white spots for camouflage and stay hidden for the first few weeks.
Mule deer have an average lifespan of 9-11 years in the wild but can live longer in captivity.

Mule deer populations are threatened by habitat loss, vehicle collisions, hunting, and climate change.
Predators such as mountain lions, wolves, and coyotes prey on mule deer.
Human development and wildfires are reducing their natural habitat.
Many conservation programs focus on habitat preservation, hunting regulations, and wildlife corridors.
Mule deer are a popular game species, and hunting is managed to maintain healthy populations.

Mule deer do not run like other deer; instead, they bound in a unique four-legged leap called "stotting."
They have a wide field of vision due to the placement of their eyes.
Mule deer can jump over fences up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) high.
Unlike some deer species, mule deer do not form large migratory herds.
They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during early morning and late evening.