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Wind Cave National Park Pair of mule deer
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Wind Cave National Park
Mule Deer
 
 

Class

Mammalia
Order Artiodactyla (even-toed hoofed mammals)
Family Cervidae (deer family).  Hoofed with antlers, which are shed each year.  Same family as moose and caribou.  Chew cud.
Genus Odocoileus
Species hemionus
Name/
History
The name comes from the large ear size.
Size
Weight (lbs)

Male
125-400

Female
100-150

Fawn/Kid
8.3

Height (ft)

3-3.5

2.5-3

 1.5

Mate October-December, males become highly aggressive
Gestation 7 months
Birth June/July fawns spotted and walk soon after birth
# young Usually 2 after first
Age 16 years in the wild; 25 years in captivity
Habitat/
Range

Coniferous forest, desert shrub, grasslands.  East from Oregon to the Dakotas, Canada south to northern Mexico.

Food Browse, grass, herbs
Enemies Coyotes, bobcats
Disease Chronic Wasting Disease, Epizootic Hemmoragic Disease
Communication

Fawns rarely bleat, bucks grunt.  Use whistling snorts of alarm or bleat to a bark if distressed.

Behavior/
Characteristics

Not highly gregarious or strictly solitary.  Tend to be creatures of habit.


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Prairie Dog Barking

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Last Updated: August 24, 2007 at 13:36 MST