Large western deer with distinctive enormous mule-like ears and a rope-like black-tipped tail. Famous for "stotting" — bounding with all four feet hitting the ground together, an unusual escape gait.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.
Source: Wikipedia — Mule deer Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium-large deer with grayish coat; large mule-like ears; black-tipped white tail.
Similar species. White-tailed Deer (different tail). Black-tailed Deer (subspecies).
Voice. Snorts; bleats.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Browse: shrubs, twigs, forbs.
Behavior. Western deer. Famous "stotting" escape gait — bouncing on all four legs simultaneously. Migrates seasonally between summer mountain ranges and winter lowlands.
§ Range
Western North America from Alaska to Mexico
§ Habitat
Diverse: mountain forests, deserts, sage-steppe, prairie
§ Threats
Habitat fragmentation by roads and energy development, chronic wasting disease, climate-driven range shifts.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the mule deer is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support wildlife corridors and highway crossings. Don't artificially feed deer (disease spread). Slow down on rural highways.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Mule deer
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Odocoileus hemionus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 42393
- iNaturalist · taxon 42164
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Odocoileus hemionus
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- Mule Deer Foundation
- IUCN Red List 2016
