science education resource

Deer (Mule)

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Odocoileus hemionus
Deer (Mule)

Range

Mule deer live throughout the Western U.S. including the deserts in the Southwest.

Habitat

They are often found in dry open country and rocky hillsides.

Body Traits

They are a grayer brown than white-tailed deer, to blend into their dry habitat. They have a smaller tail with a black tip. They do not raise it like a whitetail does. They have larger ears than whitetail’s (like a mule’s) and smaller antlers.

Habits

They have a high bouncing run (gate).

Diet

They are browsers. This means they eat twigs and buds. But they also will east grass, mushrooms and even cactus.

Predators

Predators are mountain lions. Fawns may be taken by coyotes, bears, or wolves.

To view these resources with no ads, please Login or Subscribe to help support our content development.

School subscriptions can access more than 175 downloadable unit bundles in our store for free (a value of $1,500).

District subscriptions provide huge group discounts for their schools. Email for a quote: sheri@exploringnature.org.

Reproduction

They are pregnant for about 6.5 months (gestation). They usually have twins in the spring.

Lifespan and/or Conservation Status

They live up to 10 years in the wild. They are not threatened.

Deer (Mule)

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Odocoileus
Species: Odocoileus hemionus

Citing Research References

When you research information you must cite the reference. Citing for websites is different from citing from books, magazines and periodicals. The style of citing shown here is from the MLA Style Citations (Modern Language Association).

When citing a WEBSITE the general format is as follows.
Author Last Name, First Name(s). "Title: Subtitle of Part of Web Page, if appropriate." Title: Subtitle: Section of Page if appropriate. Sponsoring/Publishing Agency, If Given. Additional significant descriptive information. Date of Electronic Publication or other Date, such as Last Updated. Day Month Year of access < URL >.

Here is an example of citing this page:

Amsel, Sheri. "Deer (Mule)" Exploring Nature Educational Resource ©2005-2024. March 25, 2024
< http://www.exploringnature.org/db/view/327 >

Exploringnature.org has more than 2,000 illustrated animals. Read about them, color them, label them, learn to draw them.