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Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus are a common deer species of the western United States. They are typically found west of the Missouri River in the Great Plains, into the Rocky Mountains, and along the Pacific Coast as far north as the coastal islands of Alaska and as far south as southern Baja California.
Mule deer are well adapted to arid, rocky environments typical of many parts of the American west. In many places their range overlaps that of the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. However, mule deers’ bodies tend to be a bit larger and heavier than white-tailed deer. The typical mule deer is about 31 to 42 inches tall at the shoulders. They are 3. Adults weigh anywhere from about lbs for a female up to about lbs for a male. Male mule deer, called bucks, have forked antlers which they use as weapons to fight off competitors for mates during the breeding season or “rut”.
Females do not have antlers. Mule deer are ruminants; animals with four-chambered stomachs that chew cud reguritated from their first stomach, or rumen. Bacteria in the rumen helps a mule deer break down their food. Compared to other animals of their size, mule deer have small stomachs. This means they must be selective in what they eat and browse on higher-quality, more nutritous plants. They feed primarily on forbs flowering, herbaceous plants , the leaves and twigs of woody plants, and on mast berries, fruit.
In the grasslands of western Nebraska and the western Dakotas, mule deer browse heavily on skunkbush sumac and Rocky Mountain juniper. They may even browse on the pads of pricklypear cactus. Explore This Park. A mule deer buck, with small, pronged antlers, is seen standing among grasses and shrubs. A mule deer buck grazes among grasses, forbs and shrubs. NPS Mule Deer Diet Mule deer are ruminants; animals with four-chambered stomachs that chew cud reguritated from their first stomach, or rumen.
Mule deer can often be seen in herds. Bucks older than yearlings will often leave their family groups and travel independently or in small groups with other bucks. In late summer, mixed family groups will often combine into larger herds for protection through the winter. In late fall the mating season, or rut, starts. Bucks with the largest antlers typically earn the right to mate with females. Throughout the rut, males will expend vast reserves of energy in their quest to fight off competing suitors.
Six to seven months after mating, in early summer, females give birth to one or two fawns. The spotted fawns nurse for periods and go into hiding in underbrush while their mothers feed. After 60 to 75 days the fawns are weaned off their mother’s milk.
A pair of mule deer stand at the top of a rocky ridge. The energy they absorb from consuming the plants that they eat at the bottom of the food chain is transferred to the carnivores, the animals at the top of the food chain. In western Nebraska and the western Dakotas, mule deer are preyed upon by mountain lions, bobcats and coyotes. A mule deer doe grazes next to the side of a road. Like all wildlife, it is important to observe mule deer from a distance, especially during the fall rut when males can act agressively.
Because they tend to browse vegetation alongside of roads, especially at dusk and dawn, it is important to drive with caution when you visit your national parks and other areas where mule deer live.
Following speed limits and paying attention to the roadway, helps prevent collisions not only with mule deer, but other animals that call our parks home. Thank you for doing your part to ensure the continued survival of our native wildlife. You Might Also Like. Loading results Tags scotts bluff national monument mule deer wildlife nebraska. Scotts Bluff National Monument. Last updated: December 15,
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Guide L Revised by Louis C. Print friendly PDF. Mule deer Odocoileus hemionusFigure 1 are one of the most important game animals in New Mexico and the West. The size of the mule deer population in New What states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in is unknown, and densities of mule deer can vary greatly among areas and over time. Bender, unpublished data. In general, mule deer have been declining in numbers in New Mexico since populations peaked around the s, similar to declines seen throughout the West Heffelfinger and Ceer, Despite declines, mule deer are still present in all 33 counties in New Mexico.
Figure 1. Mule deer are New Mexico’s most important big game species. Rocky Mountain mule deer are found in the northern two-thirds of the state and desert mule deer in the southern third. So Rocky Mountain mule deer is larger; the average field-dressed weight of mature 6 years or older посмотреть еще bucks is around lb, with larger deer weighing more than lb. Mature desert mule deer im about lb field-dressed, with the largest deer approaching lb.
Mule deer are extremely varied in their habitats. Rocky Mountain mule deer are found from above the timberline to low-elevation short grasslands, and frequently in urban areas. During winter, deer that use higher elevations usually migrate to lower elevations where food is more easily obtainable and deep snow does not limit their movements.
Desert mule deer prefer shrublands and woodlands in desert mountain ranges and hills, or arroyos in arid desert flats. They normally spend summer and winter in the same general area. Mule deer have extremely large ears, hence the name. Adults have a reddish coat in summer livw a gray coat in winter.
The summer coat is fine livr silky in texture and the winter coat is coarser and thicker. Desert mule deer are usually lighter or paler than Rocky Mountain mule deer. The reddish-brown fawns are spotted and depend on their protective coloration for safety. They lose their spots two to three months after they livs born.
A characteristic feature of the mule deer is the large white rump patch that surrounds the base of the tail. The tail itself is white with a small black tip. Unlike the white-tailed deer, the mule deer does not raise its tail in alarm, but holds it against the body as it flees. Mule deer may also stot, or bounce stiff-leggedly on all four legs, when fleeing.
Mule deer bucks have antlers that are forked Figure 2 instead of being like a white-tailed deer’s, whose points rise from the main beam Figure 3. The antlers are shed following the breeding season each winter, and new antlers begin growing shortly after the old ones are dropped.
The dropping of antlers occurs when the length of daylight decreases, triggering glandular reactions that control the production of testosterone, insulin-like growth factor-1, and other hormones. The same process is involved in the growth of the new antlers, which are covered by a skin called velvet that contains an extensive network of blood vessels. These supply the protein and minerals needed for the growth of antlers, which are the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom. In late August or September, the velvet dries up and is rubbed off on small trees and shrubs dser the antlers harden or mineralize.
Antler size and number of points depend mostly on whay deer’s age, physical condition, and their genetic the largest school districts in texas Bender, The breeding season or rut for mule deer in New Mexico begins in late November northern areas of the mlue and lasts until mid-January southern areas.
During breeding periods, mature bucks cover a large area in search of receptive females does. The does are receptive for about three days. If they are not bred during this time, their cycles will continue, and 28 days later they will again be receptive.
Unbred mature does are rare in New Mexico. There is little actual fighting between bucks because dominance hierarchy has usually been established before peak nule periods occur. The smaller or less-aggressive bucks recognize their superiors and usually give in to their dominance.
The breeding class is usually the prime-aged mature bucks, plus a few younger bucks who are exceptionally large-bodied or aggressive. One buck will breed with many does, so it is источник necessary to have equal numbers of males and females. No permanent bond is formed between bucks and does.
When the female is no longer receptive, the what states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in will leave her to seek other jule. Mule deer have a gestation period of about seven months. Fawns are usually born in June and July, later in southern New Mexico and later if does are in poor condition.
Doo, a doe has one fawn the first syates she gives birth. After this, she may have multiple fawns if she is in good condition. After about age seven the number of fawns will decrease again.
Fawns get up on their feet only hours after birth, but they are rather unsteady and very susceptible to predation. During their first few sttaes, they remain hidden and alone except when feeding Figure 4. Wha about three weeks of age, the fawns begin sampling solid foods, and shortly thereafter they begin to accompany the doe almost constantly.
Most fawns are weaned by October or November, after which they are dependent on their competitive ability to obtain adequate nutrition. Fawns that are larger at birth, or born earlier, tend to be larger at weaning and therefore are more whag to survive. Figure 4. Fawns depend upon hiding and lying still for survival during their first few weeks. Photo by Mara Weisenberger. Malnutrition is the most common cause of death excluding hunting in studied mule deer populations in New Mexico.
Malnutrition is the most common disease of mule deer Bender et al. Probably the most publicized diseases of mule deer are the epizootic на этой странице disease-bluetongue complex collectively called hemorrhagic disease [HD] and chronic wasting disease CWD.
HD is a viral disease that affects deer, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep; it is spread by biting gnats or midges Culicoides spp. Although Ststes can be enzootic always present in low frequencyin mule deer it is most commonly seen in infrequent epizootics outbreakswhich can result in a large number of deaths when what states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in and vector conditions are conducive to outbreaks.
Outbreaks occur during late summer or early autumn, usually in close proximity to wet areas. During statees, some deer die quickly with no apparent signs of disease, others may die within a week, some recover but are debilitated, and still other deer show no sign of disease during outbreaks, and survivors may what states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in immunity to that particular virus serotype but not necessarily other HD virus serotypes.
White-tailed deer are more vulnerable to HD especially epizootic hemorrhagic disease than mule deer, and thus high mortality from HD is more common in white-tailed deer and pronghorn than mule deer. Chronic wasting disease CWD is an invariably fatal degenerative neurological disease of deer, elk, and moose. Uncertainty still lingers statws exactly how CWD is spread and even the statfs agent, which is likely an abnormal protein called a prion.
Much of the concern dhat CWD involves its similarity to bovine spongiform encephalopathy BSEor mad cow ddeer consuming products from BSE-infected cattle has been linked to fatal new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans. Despite this, hunters should avoid eating venison from infected animals or other obviously sick animals and should use simple precautions, such as wearing latex gloves when handling deer or elk from areas known to statfs CWD.
Many states also restrict movement of venison or other parts of deer, elk, mulle moose from areas or states where CWD is present; be sure to check with local Game Departments for regulations on transporting venison. The Chronic Wasting Disease Wuat website www.
Predators kill deer in New Mexico each year. The chief animals that prey upon deer are mountain lions, black bears, Mexican wolves, coyotes, bobcats, and feral what does mean legal terms. Interactions between predators and mule deer are complex shates highly variable across distance and time; the key to understanding florida state fair 2021 food – florida state fair 2021 food: is differentiating between the act of predation and the effect mjle predation.
Although predators kill deer, predation may have little effect on the population if predation substitutes statss e. When predation is additive to other mortality factors, then predation can limit deer populations. Whether predation is mostly additive or mostly what states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in varies with the specific local conditions of the predator and prey communities, and their surroundings.
Mule deer can live about 10—15 years. The average lifespan of bucks is shorter than does, especially in areas of heavy hunting pressure. Because of this, most populations contain only 25—50 bucks for deef does. Mule deer feeding stafes mainly crepuscularmeaning that they feed mostly early in the morning and again libe before dark.
They prefer higher-quality foods like forbs commonly called weeds and browse leaves, buds, and new shoots of shrubs and treesbut they also utilize grasses when young and actively growing as well as succulents. Most of the remainder of the diet is forbs, and grasses and succulents e. The actual diet of deer is very diverse and reflects what is available. Common foods in northern New Mexico include aspen, chokecherry, oaks, bearberry, bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, and most other shrubs in the rose family Rosaceae.
Llve diets may be supplemented with firs, pines, and other evergreens, though in limited quantities because many of these conifers contain secondary plant compounds that are toxic to deer, inhibiting function of their digestive systems. In southern New Mexico, common foods include mile mahogany, oaks, skunkbush, yucca, ceanothus, источник pods, globemallow, vervain, and silktassel.
In all areas, a wide variety of other forbs are important depending upon what exactly is available. Mule deer are classed as concentrate selectorsmeaning they eat lesser amounts of very high-quality foods; hence, they select for foods with high concentrations of readily digestible nutrients such as simple sugars. These are, as mmule previously, mainly browse and forbs. Because of their need for high-quality foods, deer are always on the move while feeding.
They take a bite and move on, etates little time in one spot, selecting the best foods that are available. This continued movement ensures what states do mule deer live in – what states do mule deer live in properly balanced diet if sufficient plant species are present.
Like other ruminants, the mule deer has a four-chambered stomach. When they eat, the food is swallowed with a minimum amount of chewing. Between feedings, the food is regurgitated and rechewed as cud. When reswallowed, it passes through the other chambers of the stomach and on through the digestive system.
Food passes through their digestive system much more rapidly than in elk or cattle, however, and this short retention time limits just how much plant material mule xeer can digest.
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Minimize browsing damage from deer by planting vegetation that they tend to avoid, or selecting native plants and shrubs that generally recover even if eaten by deer. A bonus for the latter types of plants — most are highly attractive to birds, pollinating insects and other native wildlife species! Securing your yard at night reduces the likelihood of deer damage. During the day, deer usually stay in the thickest vegetative cover available and as far as possible from homes and people.
At night, deer leave the security of the trees and vegetation and venture out in search of food. Deer can become trapped and injured by falling into window wells. Once in a well, deer may crash through the glass and do damage to themselves and your home in their efforts to escape. To prevent this, cover window wells with commercially available grates, bubbles, fencing or build a cover using quarter-inch hardware cloth or wire.
Road safety Slow down while driving through deer habitats, especially at dawn and dusk and during the spring and winter months when they are migrating. Pay attention to wildlife crossing warning signs. Watch for movement along the roadway. If you see one deer, there will likely be more. Keep deer safe by keeping your distance While deer are not predators, they are still wild animals. Some things to keep in mind: Especially during the late fall breeding season — called the rut — bucks can become very aggressive.
They are often combative with each other, and can become very agitated with humans and pets who come near them or other members of their herd. It is against the law to allow your dogs to chase or harass deer. If you see a fawn on its own, the best thing to do is to keep your distance and leave the animal right where you found it. The mother is usually close by. Remember: Always observe wildlife from a safe distance. The Mammals of Texas. A groundbreaking bipartisan bill aims to address the looming wildlife crisis before it’s too late, while creating sorely needed jobs.
More than one-third of U. We’re on the ground in seven regions across the country, collaborating with 52 state and territory affiliates to reverse the crisis and ensure wildlife thrive. Uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Inspire a lifelong connection with wildlife and wild places through our children’s publications, products, and activities. In 4 seconds , you will be redirected to nwfactionfund. The National Wildlife Federation. Mule Deer. Classification: Mammal.
Range Mule deer are among the most beloved and iconic wildlife of the American West. Diet Mule deer are browsers, feeding on herbaceous plants and the leaves and twigs of woody shrubs.
Life History Between November and February depending on the locality , bucks that are evenly matched in size and strength engage in battles for the right to mate with females. Fun Fact Mule deer get their name from their big, mule-like ears. Donate Today. Sign a Petition. Donate Monthly. Nearby Events. Sitka black-tailed deer O.
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