The mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, is a deer indigenous to western North America, named for its large ears, which resemble those of a mule. Two of its subspecies are grouped as the black-tailed deer. Mule deer are found in the western and central parts of the continent, from the western Great Plains to the Rocky Mountains, the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, and along the west coast. Their range is smaller than that of the white-tailed deer, which lives across most of North America east of the Rockies. The species has also been introduced to Argentina and to Kauai in Hawaii. It can hybridise with the white-tailed deer, although such hybrids are rare in the wild and survive poorly.
Facts
Classification
Population Trend System (Realm) ThreatsResidential and Commercial Development 4 ThreatsAgriculture and Aquaculture 4 ThreatsBiological Resource Use 4 ThreatsNatural System Modifications 4 Relationship to People Relationship to PeopleInvasive or Introduced Species 2 Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Activity Pattern Activity Pattern Comparison
NatureServe Rank Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Biome
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Odocoileus hemionus (Animal Diversity Web)
Desert, Biomes Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Odocoileus hemionus (Animal Diversity Web)
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Odocoileus hemionus (Animal Diversity Web)
In Ecosystem
Source Mule deer (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mule deer (Wikipedia)Lead, range (mexico)Quote, Lead, range (mexico)
the southwest United States and northern Mexico
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mule deer (Wikipedia)Lead, range (north-america)Quote, Lead, range (north-america)
Mule deer are found in the western and central parts of North America.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Mule deer (Wikipedia)Lead, range (united-states)Quote, Lead, range (united-states)
the southwest United States and northern Mexico
Sources
1. Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 mammal diet data
Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)Row: odocoileus hemionus, Diet columns (plant material 90%, fruit 0%, seed 10%)
5297 Odocoileus hemionus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 90 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 54212.57 Ref_117 1
Row: odocoileus hemionus, Activity columns (Nocturnal 1)
5297 Odocoileus hemionus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 90 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 54212.57 Ref_117 1
Row: odocoileus hemionus, Activity columns (Crepuscular 1)
5297 Odocoileus hemionus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 90 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 54212.57 Ref_117 1
Row: odocoileus hemionus, BodyMass-Value 54212.57 g (54.2 kg); band set by mass: medium from 1.2 kg to under 32 kg, large from 32 kg to under 1000 kg
5297 Odocoileus hemionus Cervidae 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 90 Ref_1 ABC G A 1 1 0 Ref_1 ABC 54212.57 Ref_117 1
View the Source 2. Mule deer (Wikipedia)
Lead, range (north-america)
Mule deer are found in the western and central parts of North America.
Lead, range (mexico)
the southwest United States and northern Mexico
Lead, range (united-states)
the southwest United States and northern Mexico
Lead
is a deer indigenous to western North America
Population
researchers have seen a decline in mule deer populations
Distribution
Mule deer have also been introduced to Argentina and Kauai, Hawaii.
Child Taxon Of: Cervidae, Lead, family placement
is a deer indigenous to western North America
In Group: Even-Toed Ungulates (Artiodactyla), Lead, group placement
is a deer indigenous to western North America
In Ecosystem: Yellowstone, Diet, Yellowstone study
Carbon isotopic study of mule deer in Yellowstone
View the Source3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Odocoileus hemionus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyHabitat, Terrestrial Biomes
Terrestrial Biomes desert or dune desert or dune
Lifespan/Longevity, captivity
Average lifespan Status: captivity 22 years
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
is of tremendous interest to hunters
View the Source 4. NatureServe Explorer: Odocoileus hemionus
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
Threat assessment, IUCN threat category 1
"iucnThreatCategoryDescEn": "Residential \u0026 commercial development"
Threat assessment, IUCN threat category 2
"iucnThreatCategoryDescEn": "Agriculture \u0026 aquaculture"
Threat assessment, IUCN threat category 5
"iucnThreatCategoryDescEn": "Biological resource use"
Threat assessment, IUCN threat category 7
"iucnThreatCategoryDescEn": "Natural system modifications"
View the Source 5. GBIF: Odocoileus hemionus
GBIFDistributions, IUCN Red List threat statusQuote, Distributions, IUCN Red List threat status
threatStatus: LEAST_CONCERN
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