Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Artiodactyla · Cervidae

About

The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer.

Fun Fact

Mule deer get their name from their large, mule-like ears, which can rotate independently like satellite dishes to detect predators from any direction.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Mountains and deserts

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

9-11 years

Threats

Mining Operations
Infrastructure Development

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

More Mammals Species

Abbott's Duiker EN Abbott's Gibbon EN Addax CR African Elephant EN African Forest Elephant CR African Wild Ass CR

Browse all Mammals →