Mule Deer - Feeding
Mule Deer are ruminants and digest the food in much the same way as a cow. They utilize a wide range of vegetative food - leaves, stems, and shoots of woody plants. Mule Deer are fond of wheat, clover, sunflower, and other agricultural grain and crops. In forests Mule deer feed on woody plants: wild rose, jack pine, buck brush, and others. In winter, when food is difficult to obtain, deer feed at all times of the day and night. During the rut feeding is often erratic, especially with bucks. When many hunters are on the range, Mule Deer feed at night. With its larger feet the Mule Deer is able to claw out water as much as 2 feet deep, which it detects with the keen sense of smell.
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Picture source:
Canadian Animals
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Weight: More than 50 kg for males and about 32 kg for females.
Length: 50-85 inches with tail.
Life Span: 10 years in the wild, up to 20 in captivity.
Mule Deer - Taxonomy
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactila
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: hemionus
Mule Deer - Predators
Mule Deer fawns suffer from many predators: foxes, domestic dogs, badgers, lynx, and even ants. Adult Deer are afraid only of larger animals: mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, eagles and coyotes. The mean of protection is the unique Mule Deer's gait or stotting that allows these graceful animals to cover great distances with minimal effort and clear obstacles that impede the predators.
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Picture source:
Clark Kimberling Home Page
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Mule Deer - General Info Links
Animaldiversity - A very informative article on Mule Deer' way of life and their economic importance.
BLM Arizona Strip Field Office - Mule Deer - Distribution and abundance of Mule Deer in Arizona.
Boreal Forest - Tells about the distinguishing features of Mule Deer.
Death-Valley Wildlife - Presents Mule Deer, inhabiting Death Valley.
Deer Adventure - Mule Deer distribution and tracking is presented.
Deer and Companions - Lots of various Mule Deer photos and bibliography.
Deer Assessment - A PDF article on the Mule Deer distribution in California.
Deer Hunting - A hunting guide for various species of deer.
Deer Species - Mule Deer presented in comparison to White-tailed Deer.
Deer Tracks - A survey on identification of Mule Deer by their tracks.
Desert Mule Deer - Describes the Mule Deer way of life and contains links to parks with Deer.
Exzooberance - Photos of Mule Deer in the wild.
Genetic Variations of Mule Deer - A study on genetic variations in limited populations of Mule Deer.
Hoofed Mammals - General info on the Black-tailed subspecies of Mule Deer.
Mule Deer - Presents basic facts on the species.
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Picture source:
Museum of Zoology. University of Michigan
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Mule Deer of the Desert - All about Mule Deer, includes color photos, scientific names, common names, description, behavior, range, habitats and life cycle.
Semi-Desert Shrublands - A detailed study of the Mule Deer nutrition, predators, habitats, and economic importance.
Species Locator - Contains physical description and hunting methods.
Texas Parks - Tells about factors affecting Mule Deer population.
The Mule Deer - About Mule Deer in brief.
Western Imprints: Mule Deer Facts - General information on the Mule Deer.
White-Tailed Deer Farmers' Network - Comprehensive information on farming white-tailed and mule deer in North America.
