Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
By Cindy Murray, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
By Cindy Murray, Friends and Neighbors of the Deschutes Canyon Area
photo by Tom Iraci
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photo by Tom Iraci
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Love Them or Hate Them!
Most of us have experienced the disappointment of strolling through our vegetable and flower gardens only to discover there’s nothing left! Deer seem to sense (more likely smell) exactly the moment you set out all your summer petunias and next morning – wiped out. You have probably determined by now that our native Mule Deer are herbivorous and depend upon a wide variety of plants and shrubs. In addition to your gardens, deer will browse nearly all of our native plants, including juniper.
Could you guess that mule deer are so named because they have large ears resembling those of mules? Mule deer are among our most beloved and iconic wildlife, not only here in Crooked River Ranch but throughout western North America. On the conservation scale, deer are of least concern in becoming endangered. Our deer population will increase and decrease according to rainfall and drought. Sometimes diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease, can also cause a decline in their numbers, especially fawns.
Mule deer males are known as bucks or stags and weigh between 120-330 pounds, while females are does, weighing 95-200 pounds. During the months of October through early December is the breeding season and often described as the rut. Mule deer does generally give birth to a single or twin fawns in about 205 days, almost 7 months later during early summer. They weigh around 6 pounds at birth and endear themselves to many people with their bright white spots. Fawns will stay close to their moms for the first week. As soon as they are strong enough to follow, they will venture out to join the main group. Fawns are weaned when they are 70 days old and will be nibbling anything green growing in your gardens! The typical lifespan for mule deer is around 9-11 years. Please remember to watch for mule deer, especially with fawns, and drive with awareness!
Could you guess that mule deer are so named because they have large ears resembling those of mules? Mule deer are among our most beloved and iconic wildlife, not only here in Crooked River Ranch but throughout western North America. On the conservation scale, deer are of least concern in becoming endangered. Our deer population will increase and decrease according to rainfall and drought. Sometimes diseases, such as Chronic Wasting Disease, can also cause a decline in their numbers, especially fawns.
Mule deer males are known as bucks or stags and weigh between 120-330 pounds, while females are does, weighing 95-200 pounds. During the months of October through early December is the breeding season and often described as the rut. Mule deer does generally give birth to a single or twin fawns in about 205 days, almost 7 months later during early summer. They weigh around 6 pounds at birth and endear themselves to many people with their bright white spots. Fawns will stay close to their moms for the first week. As soon as they are strong enough to follow, they will venture out to join the main group. Fawns are weaned when they are 70 days old and will be nibbling anything green growing in your gardens! The typical lifespan for mule deer is around 9-11 years. Please remember to watch for mule deer, especially with fawns, and drive with awareness!
