Why do mule deer have big ears? Mule Deer are the largest member of the Odocoileus
Odocoileus
Odocoileus is a genus of medium-sized deer containing two species native to the Americas. The name is sometimes spelled odocoeleus; it is from a contraction of the roots odonto- and coelus meaning "hollow-tooth".
Full Answer
What are some interesting facts about mule deer?
1 Stotting – Mule deer have a very unique way of running. While they can run the “traditional way,” they commonly run in a more unique fashion. ... 2 Antlers vs. ... 3 Antler Velvet – After deer shed their antlers, they quickly begin to grow them back. ... 4 Formidable Prey – A healthy adult mule deer is a tough adversary. ...
How do human activities affect the mule deer?
Human activities such as natural resource extraction, highways, fencing, and urban development all have an impact on mule deer populations and migrations through habitat degradation and fragmentation.
Why do some animals have big ears?
For different animals, big-sized ears have different purposes. For example, animals with big ears, like elephants, regulate their body temperature through their ears. And since elephants do not sebum glands, meaning they do not sweat, they need a different way to regulate the temperature in harsh environments.
What animal eats a mule deer?
Besides humans, the three leading predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves, and cougars. Bobcats, Canadian lynxes, wolverines, American black bears, and brown bears may prey upon adult deer, but most often only attack fawns or infirm specimens or eat the deer after it has died naturally.
Why do deer have big ears?
The large external ears (or pinnae) of the deer work somewhat like a satellite dish. They help to amplify the sound (just like cupping your hands behind your ears), but because they can move independently of each other they also help the deer evaluate what is happening in all directions.
Do mule deer have big ears?
Mule deer's defining characteristic are their large ears, which are about three-fourths the length of the head. They have a distinctive black forehead, or mask, that contrasts with a light gray face. In the summer, mule deer are tannish-brown and in the winter are brownish-gray in color.
How big are mule deer ears?
20 to 22 inchesTo accurately judge antler spread, we can use a buck's ear width as a gauge. On the average mature mule deer buck, with its ears in an alert position, he will have an ear span of 20 to 22 inches tip-to-tip. But I have measured large specimens with ear tip to tip spans up to 26 inches.
What is special about the deer ears?
A deer's hearing, being far superior to that of a human, can easily detect the faintest of sounds. In fact, it is believed that a deer's hearing is so sensitive that it can determine how far away a sound was made. A deer's hearing is one of the reasons that it is so difficult to sneak up on one without being detected.
What tastes better whitetail or mule deer?
I don't discern much difference in taste between the two and feel a good mule deer is every bit as good eating as a whitetail. The only thing I have noticed is that in the rut, mule deer bucks seem to be gamier smelling than a whitetail buck and the meat can be stronger tasting when they are rutting hard.
Can mule deer and whitetail breed?
Whitetail bucks will breed with mule deer does, and the offspring usually retain the whitetail characteristics. Reverse mating — mule deer bucks to whitetail does — is rarer. So where the two species share a common range, the whitetail tends to dominate.
What makes a trophy mule deer?
First, what exactly constitutes a “trophy class” mule deer? Short answer, it is whatever you want it to be. For some, a trophy may be a 4-point regardless of size. For others, a buck must have a Boone and Crockett Score of 200+ inches of antler.
What's the biggest mule deer ever shot?
The Broder Buck: The World Record Non-Typical Mule Deer361 6/8 Inches. Net Score:355 2/8 Inches. Scoreable Points:22 1/8 Inches (Inside) Mass:
What is the lifespan of a mule deer?
9-11 yearsMule deer usually live 9-11 years in the wild and can live to be much older when in captivity. These deer range from 3.0-3.5 feet tall at the shoulder, 4.5-7.0 feet long and have a tail that is 5.0-8.0 inches long. they can weigh between 130-280 pounds.
Do deer recognize humans?
They first recognize you at a distance when they see you, then verify your smell as you get closer, while listening all the time. They tend to ignore you if you're on their “safe” list, and move away if you're someone who hassles them.
Why do deers stare at you?
When you see a deer staring at you, it's a sign that you have the ability to overcome challenging circumstances with a sense of calm and dignity. Deer will help you remember to be kind to yourself and others, and remind you to do the same.
Can deer see you if you don't move?
A deer's eyes can detect even the slightest hint of movement. To get a 3D look at a strange but stationary object that might present danger, a deer has to see it from several angles. That's why alert deer shift their heads from side to side and bob them up and down so often.
Why is hunting important for mule deer?
Just like their whitetail cousins, hunting is an important population control for mule deer. Because human activity suppresses large predators, deer populations boom. This population boom causes disease and starvation. Of course, some subspecies have very small populations, and laws protect them from hunting for this reason.
How big do mule deer get?
Description of the Mule Deer. This species is quite large, and some individuals can stand over 42 in. tall at the shoulder. Most weigh no more than 331 lbs. but some individuals have reached up to 460 lbs. There are 10 different subspecies, some of which vary greatly in size of color. Like their whitetail cousins, ...
How to tell if a deer is whitetail or whitetail?
While they look like their relative, the whitetail deer, this species lives mostly in the western United States. You can differentiate them from their whitetail cousin by looking at their ears. These deer have large ears, which look very much like those of a mule. Read on to learn about the mule deer.
How do mule deer run?
Stotting – Mule deer have a very unique way of running. While they can run the “traditional way,” they commonly run in a more unique fashion. These deer frequently run by stotting, which is where they hop along and land with all four feet at a time.
What is the difference between antlers and horns?
Antlers vs. Horns – The primary difference between antlers and horns is that animals shed their antlers yearly. Horns have a bony core, with many blood vessels, and a coating of hair-like keratin. Antlers are pure bone, and grow larger year after year after the animal has shed.
What predators are mule deer?
Predators rarely attempt to attack adult deer, but prefer to hunt old, young, or sick animals. This species’ most common predators are cougars, coyotes, and gray wolves.
How long does it take for mule deer to reproduce?
Reproduction of the Mule Deer. Female deer, called “does,” mate with several males, called “bucks.”. The gestation period is around 200 days long, and it is very common for does to have twins. Occasionally, does can produce up to 4 fawns per pregnancy!
How tall is a mule deer?
The mule deer is the larger of the two Odocoileus species on average, with a height of 80–106 cm (31–42 in) at the shoulders and a nose-to-tail length ranging from 1.2 to 2.1 m (3.9 to 6.9 ft). Of this, the tail may comprise 11.6 to 23 cm (4.6 to 9.1 in).
Where are mule deer from?
Cariacus virgultus Hallock, 1899. The mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus) 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.
How does urbanization affect mule deer?
The increase in urbanization has impacted mule deer migrations and there is evidence to show it also disrupts gene flow among mule deer populations. One clear option is to not build houses in critical mule deer habitat; however, build near mule deer habitat has resulted in some deer becoming accustom to humans and the resources, such as food and water. Rather than migrate through urban areas some deer tend to stay close to those urban developments, potentially for resources and to avoid the obstacles in urban areas. Suggested measures by property owners to protect mule deer genetic diversity and migration paths include planting deer-restitant plants, placing scare devices such as noise-makers, and desisting from feeding deer.
What is the difference between a white tail deer and a mule deer?
In many cases, body size is also a key difference. The mule deer's tail is black-tipped, whereas the white-tailed deer's is not. Mule deer antlers are bifurcated; they "fork" as they grow, rather than branching from a single main beam, as is the case with white-taileds.
What are the predators of mule deer?
Besides humans, the three leading predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves, and cougars. Bobcats, Canada lynx, wolverines, American black bears, and grizzly bears may prey upon adult deer, but most often only attack fawns or infirm specimens, or eat a deer after it has died naturally.
How many species of plants do mule deer eat?
In 99 studies of mule deer diets, some 788 species of plants were eaten by mule deer, and their diets vary greatly depending on the season, geographic region, year, and elevation. The studies gave these data for Rocky Mountain mule deer diets:
What are the two groups of deer?
Mule deer can be divided into two main groups: the mule deer ( sensu stricto) and the black-tailed deer . The first group includes all subspecies, except O. h. columbianus and O. h. sitkensis, which are in the black-tailed deer group. The two main groups have been treated as separate species, but they hybridize, and virtually all recent authorities treat the mule deer and black-tailed deer as conspecific. Mule deer apparently evolved from the black-tailed deer. Despite this, the mtDNA of the white-tailed deer and mule deer is similar, but differs from that of the black-tailed deer. This may be the result of introgression, although hybrids between the mule deer and white-tailed deer are rare in the wild (apparently more common locally in West Texas ), and the hybrid survival rate is low even in captivity. Many claims of observations of wild hybrids are not legitimate, as identification based on external features is complicated.
What is the color of mule deer?
The Mule Deer is considered to be a larger species of deer. They also have ears that are larger than most compared to their body size. The coloring for this species of deer will change as the year progresses. In the summer months they are brown with hints of red. Cinnamon is a very common color for them.
Why are mule deer legal?
Due to the population of Mule Deer they are one species that often comes into contact with humans. In many locations it is legal to hunt these animals during specific periods of the year. That way the population can be controlled and they won’t starve to death due to not even food to go around.
When do mule deer mate?
For the Mule Deer the females are ready to mate when they are 1 ½ years of age. For the males they may be mature enough for it, but they have to win their opportunity and that often takes many years before they are successful.
Do mule deer live with females?
Mule Deer live in small herds with the females getting along very well with each other. However, the males keep their distance from the rest of them. They really only interact with the females when they are ready to mate.
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