Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus, most likely obtained their common name from the very large ears that reminded people of ears on a mule. The ears can turn independently in different direction, funneling the sounds into the sensitive hearing system. The very first indication of danger can be obtained by capturing the faintest sounds from far away.
Their winter coat is grayish-brown with white throat, rump and underbelly patches.
They have a narrow tail with a black tip and, unlike the other common species of BC deer, the Whitetail, the mule deer do not carry their tail upright when running.
Actually, when they sense danger, they more jump than run. Their stiff legged, jumping can be quite entertaining to watch. When sensing danger they jump with all four feet up in the air at the same time.
Their escape route usually leads up a hill rather than straight ahead or down. Because they are the "jumping" deer, it is easier for them to outrun (and out-kick) their predators by going UP.This little one doesn't quite know this - he is probably still only practicing in his
"Jumping 101" course.
I am talking about our "mountain" dwelling mule deer. Their strategies could be different in other environments that they also inhabit - chaparral, semi-desert, brush or woods.
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| Oakmoss lichen Evernia prunastri |
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| Common Witch's Hair Alectoria sarmentosa |
In some locations they luck out and find
a feeding station or join cattle in farmers' fields.
There the mule deer can form large groups, especially in the winter.
By springtime they find plenty of other foods; young twigs, buds, leaves and grasses.
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| One of the numerous BC moss species |
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| Large Mule Deer family relaxing by Princeton, BC |
By summer, the mule deer shed their grizzled hair and become more reddish-brown. Hair in the deer's coat is quite buoyant - all deer are excellent swimmers.
Mule Deer belong to the Deer Family, which means that the males have antlers, bony projections (unlike horns - see the Bighorn Sheep blog). Only male mule deer posses the antlers; they use them to fight the other males (bucks) and win a small harem of females (does).
This happens during the fall months from about October to December. the bucks shed their antlers during January - February and start growing new ones in Spring.
The babies (fawns) are born in May or June.
Last spring I was kayaking the Kootenay River when I saw this doe just about ready to give birth. She was on a high bank not paying much attention to my camera and I. Unfortunately the water is quite fast at this time of the year, it turned my unsteady vessel in all directions making photography near to impossible. At the end I just paddled away, having no idea how her story has ended.
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In any case, I like to believe that a little fawn, just like the one below, became her cheerful companion and that he/she survived until the adulthood.
Only about 70 percent of young deer make it past the first year of their lives.
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| Princeton, BC |
Mule deer are most active in the mornings and in the evenings and they come out from their hiding places sometimes carelessly and in large numbers. They can cause hazardous situations on the roads - where on has crossed several others might be ready run across.
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| Rock Creek, BC |
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| Manning Park, BC |
It seems that they have adapted to most of the British Columbia's environments and that, as we hunt their predators for trophies (still???) and/or deprive them (the predators) of habitat, the mule deer numbers are on the rise.
Here are two things that I have learned by writing this entry:
ONE
Mule deer have more and larger scent glands than any other deer in this part of the world. I am guessing that their way of life - traveling through dense forests and bushy areas - might have something to do with that. Maybe there are other reasons that I still do not know about. True enough that even the human can smell a deer on the trail.
TWO
Just couldn't help it. This guy really makes me think that way.
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