[17][29], Mule deer are ruminants, meaning they employ a nutrient acquisition strategy of fermenting plant material before digesting it. A confirmation email has been sent. These deer have large ears, which look very much like those of a mule. Wildlife agencies discourage such efforts, which cause harm to mule deer populations by spreading disease (such as tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease) when deer congregate for feed, disrupting migratory patterns, causing overpopulation of local mule deer populations, and cause habitat destruction overbrowsing of shrubs and forbs. Subscribed! crowding) is about seven. [22][23] In the Sierra Nevada range, mule deer depend on the lichen Bryoria fremontii as a winter food source.[24]. Many methods have been suggested to give accurate weight estimations of any deer. Mule Deer have standing shoulder heights between 2â8â-3â6â (81-107 cm), head-to-body lengths in the range of 3â7â-5â6â (109-168 cm), and overall weights of 99-330 lb (45-150 kg). Other animals include the four-horned antelope, gaur, taruca, wild yak, moose, domestic sheep, and domestic pig. Although capable of running, mule deer are often seen stotting (also called pronking), with all four feet coming down together. The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is deer species indigenous to western North America and is named for its large eyes that resemble those of a mule. [26], Mule deer are variably gregarious, with a large proportion of solitary individuals (35 to 64%) and small groups (groups with ≤5 deer, 50 to 78%). The most noticeable differences between white-tailed and mule deer are ear size, tail color, and antler configuration. Deer exist on every continent besides Australia and Antarctica and live and forage for grasses and shrubs in temperate, alpine, wetlands, and grassland environments. Shared characteristics of even-toed ungulates include them being mostly herbivores, and having 2 or 4 functional toes. Use our Size Comparison calculator to compare the dimensional properties of Mule Deer with other related elements from our database. [27][28] Reported mean group size measurements are three to five and typical group size (i.e. Mule deer are the largest of the five types of deer (mule, whitetail, Columbia blacktail, Sitka blacktail, and Couses') in North America. [17], Besides humans, the three leading predators of mule deer are coyotes, wolves, and cougars. During the winter deer tend to eat buds, bark, and shoots, while in the spring and summer time they will generally eat corn, and acorns. A comprehensive reference database of dimensioned drawings documenting the standard measurements and sizes of the everyday objects and spaces that make up our world. In many cases, body size is also a key difference. The "rut" or mating season usually begins in the fall as does go into estrus for a period of a few days and males become more aggressive, competing for mates. [31] Forages consumed in the summer are higher in digestible components (i.e. Want updates on new Dimensions content? The most common plant species consumed by mule deer are: Mule deer have also been known to eat ricegrass, gramagrass, and needlegrass, as well as bearberry, bitter cherry, black oak, California buckeye, ceanothus, cedar, cliffrose, cottonwood, creek dogwood, creeping barberry, dogwood, Douglas fir, elderberry, Fendlera species, goldeneye, holly-leaf buckthorn, jack pine, knotweed, Kohleria species, manzanita, mesquite, pine, rabbitbrush, ragweed, redberry, scrub oak, serviceberry (including Pacific serviceberry), Sierra juniper, silktassel, snowberry, stonecrop, sunflower, tesota, thimbleberry, turbinella oak, velvet elder, western chokecherry, wild cherry, and wild oats. Even-toed ungulates have an even number of toes (2 or 4) while odd-toed ungulates have an odd number of toes. [21][18] Mule deer are intermediate feeders rather than pure browsers or grazers; they predominantly browse, but also eat forb vegetation, small amounts of grass, and where available, tree or shrub fruits such as beans, pods, nuts (including acorns), and berries. [1][5][6][7][8][9], Unlike the related white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), which is found through most of North America east of the Rocky Mountains and in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains from Idaho and Wyoming northward, mule deer are only found on the western Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the southwest United States, and on the west coast of North America. [30] Because some of the subspecies of mule deer are migratory, they encounter variable habitats and forage quality throughout the year. Mule deer have also been introduced to Argentina and Kauai, Hawaii.[5]. The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is deer species indigenous to western North America and is named for its large eyes that resemble those of a mule. What are the differences between even and odd-toed ungulates? 3DM, OBJ, SKPÂ formats, Dimensions is a project by Fantastic Offense. Their diet fluctuates all year to what is available each season. Groups are smallest during fawning season (June and July in Saskatchewan and Alberta) and largest in early gestation (winter; February and March in Saskatchewan and Alberta). [9] 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. [15][17], The size of mule deer groups follows a marked seasonal pattern. Select an item on the right to compare relative dimensions to Mule Deer. [25] Where available, mule deer also eat a variety of wild mushrooms, which are most abundant in late summer and fall in the southern Rocky Mountains; mushrooms provide moisture, protein, phosphorus, and potassium. 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). Supplemental feeding efforts might be appropriate when carefully conducted under limited circumstances, but to be successful, the feeding must begin early in the severe winter (before poor range conditions and severe weather cause malnourishment or starvation) and must be continued until range conditions can support the herd. The annual cycle of antler growth is regulated by changes in the length of the day. Edible Meat Weight will vary depending upon: How the deer is processed and How many times the deer was shot and what part(s) of the deer was shot. Mule Deerâs are mainly found throughout the western Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the southwest United States, and North America's West Coast. peninsulae. The mule deer's tail is black-tipped, whereas the white-tailed deer's is not. The gestation period is about 190–200 days, with fawns born in the spring. For 3D Downloads of this element, upgrade to a Dimensions Pro Membership. What are the shared characteristics of even-toed ungulates? Scaled 2DÂ drawings and 3DÂ models available for download. 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. [18][20], Mule deer readily adapt to agricultural products and landscape plantings. Rumination time also increases when deer consume high-fiber, low-starch diets, which allows for increased nutrient acquisition due to greater length of fermentation.