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Mule Deer
Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), also known as
black-tail deer, are ideally suited to the rugged slopes of the Rocky
Mountains. A large number inhabit the park in summer, but most migrate
to lower elevations, or "winter range" outside the park in the winter.
Like the elk and bison, mule deer were reduced to dangerously low
numbers in the mid-nineteenth century due to over-hunting. At the turn
of the century, Yellowstone served as a sanctuary and continues to
protect them from hunters within the park's boundaries.
Three features make the mule deer easily recognizable: its oversized ears,
its black-tipped tail, and its unique way of jumping and landing on all
four feet at once. Mule deer are browsers with a highly varied diet.
Studies have documented mule deer in the Rockies that eat over 600
different species of plants. They feed on grasses during spring and
summer, and on branches of trees and shrubs in winter. Palatable grasses
and shrubs now flourish in many of the areas burned by the 1988 fires.
 Where
to find them
Mule deer are not seen often in Yellowstone, but can be found in many
locations. Most often, they are seen along the Madison River and in the
Mammoth Hot Springs area. They are also often seen in the Blacktail area
between Mammoth and Tower Junction.
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