Mule deer browse in shrubby areas. This species’ most common predators are cougars, coyotes, and gray wolves. As the other food sources for those canines become scarce, it is more and more common for them to go after deer. Formidable Prey – A healthy adult mule deer is a tough adversary. They’ll go head-to-head during the pre-rut and the rut. Some biologists estimate that a mule deer’s sense of smell is up to 1,000 times stronger than a human’s. Mule deer can detect slight predator movement up to 600 meters away, but they are not very good at detecting motionless forms. Mule deer populations are calculated by Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists through 945 miles of aerial transects and 393 miles of spotlight surveys. By Todd A. 3. Canines are a big problem for deer due to the fact that so many of them are found in the same types of environments. A growing population of people, predators and the often harsh elements took huge numbers of the animals. Some thoughts on the delicated predator prey relationship. Drought, habitat degradation, reproduction, water distribution, and predator density are factors affecting mule deer … Factors affecting mule deer populations. A new state amendment gives Utah wildlife managers broader control over killing black bear, mountain lions and other predators to save Mule Deer. In today’s age, one might think we have a handle on the predator-prey relationship of the mule deer and their many enemies. Black. Predators rarely attempt to attack adult deer, but prefer to hunt old, young, or sick animals. As an obligate carnivore, meat is a necessity for its diet. The first Estes Valley settlers in the early 1860's found a moderately abundant mule deer numbers. While there are many predators working against mule deer, their age-old enemies of the coyote, bobcat, mountain lion and wolf have mule deer on guard from the moment they’re born. Predators can have a limiting or regulating e˚ect on mule deer populations. Mule Deer vs. the predator, What happening? In the western U.S. and Canada, those predators are primarily mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats, although black bears, wolves, grizzly bears, and feral dogs will also take mule deer. However, A Little History. Mule deer are prey for many large predators of western North America. Posted August 2, 2011 by manager. The effect of predator removal on ungulate and, more specifically, mule deer {Odocoileus hemionus) populations has not heen adequately investigated at a management Deer are often the victims of various types of predator out there in the wild. The cougar is a generalist predator, one that will eat any animal it catches – whether it’s big or small. Rattle Their Cage: Mule deer enjoy a good fight as much as any whitetail. NPS. Do mule deer have a good sense of smell? 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