Mule Deer     by Barton Stam    airs  Nov. 16. 2008         1:34 long

What animal has long ears and bounces away from danger?  A rabbit would be one answer, but today we’re talking about Mule Deer. Mule deer are n amed for their long mule-like ears, and even the fawns appear to have been born with oversized ears.

Stotting is the name of their curious gait used to flee danger.  Stotting allows them to easily clear rocks, brush, and deadfalls.  It is also thought to allow them to scan ahead for additional threats.

According to the Wyoming Game and Fish there are 480,000 mule deer in our great state.  These deer will attract 63,000 hunters, who will spend about 28 million dollars in pursuit of these deer annually. Mule deer populations have been declining for several decades for a variety of reasons.  Dry summers and hard winters are tough on mule deer survival.  Chronic Wasting Disease and predation are  also impacting mule deer in many states.

Meriwether Lewis referred to them as “a curious kind of deer”, and remarked at the differences between mule deer and the whitetail deer he was familiar with, noting the forked antlers, black tipped tail, and of course the long ears.

Today wildlife enthusiasts continue to enjoy the beautiful mule deer.  From the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service, I’m Barton Stam, exploring the nature of Wyoming.