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Deer (Mule)


Odocoileus hemionus
Deer (Mule)


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


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.


They have a high bouncing run (gate).


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


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



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)


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

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