Mammals

Pronghorn

NPS Photo

Pronghorn "Antelope" (Antilocapra americana)

Appeareance: Golden brown with white belly and rump

Behavior & Size:

• Male (buck) weighs 100–125 pounds; female (doe) weighs 90–110 pounds; adult length is 45–55 inches and height is 35–40 inches at shoulder.
• Average life span: 7–10 years.
• Young (fawns) born in late May–June.
• Live in grasslands.
• Can run for sustained sprints of 45–50 mph.
• Eat sagebrush and other shrubs, forbs, some grasses.
• Both sexes have horns; males are pronged.

Pronghorn is not a true "Antepole" as in the African and or Souetheast asian Species.

 

Mule Deer

NPS Gallery

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

Weight & Size: They stand 3 to 3.5 feet tall at the shoulder, and can be 4.5 to 7 feet long. Bucks can weigh 125 to 250 pounds, with some reaching 400 pounds, and does typically weigh between 100 and 150 pounds.

Behavior and Reproduction:

• Breeding: Breeding season is usually in November and December.
• Fawns: Does may breed with more than one buck, resulting in twin fawns of different fathers.
• Litter Size: Litter sizes typically range from 1 to 2 fawns.
• Weaning: Fawns begin weaning around 5 weeks and are usually weaned by 16 weeks, according to the Utah Natural Heritage Program.

Appearence: They have a white rump patch and a narrow, black-tipped tail. They have a heavy, dark grey coat during winter, which is shed in the spring as temperatures warm.

Antlers: Only bucks (males) have antlers, which are shed each spring and regrow with "velvet" covering.

Habitat: Mule deer can be found in various habitats, including rugged mountain wilderness, urban areas, foothills, and valley floors.

Diet: They are herbivores and browse on plants, shrubs, and grasses. Their diet varies seasonally, with a greater reliance on browse during the winter.

Dietary Shifts: Urban mule deer may rely more on human-related food sources, leading to conflicts and nutritional imbalances.

Habituation: Habituated mule deer may become aggressive and pose a danger to humans, including bluff-charging people or chasing joggers.

Behavior & Reproduction:

• Breeding: Breeding season is usually in November and December.
• Fawns: Does may breed with more than one buck, resulting in twin fawns of different fathers.
• Litter Size: Litter sizes typically range from 1 to 2 fawns.
• Weaning: Fawns begin weaning around 5 weeks and are usually weaned by 16 weeks, according to the Utah Natural Heritage Program.