Similarities/Differences in White-tail and Mule Deer

White-tailed VS. Mule Deer

Differences

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus

            Or “Virginia Deer”

*All white tail

*Antlers branching from a single main beam

*Found more in the Eastern United States

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

*White tail except for a black tip

* Antlers are bifurcated, or "fork"

*Found more in the Western United States

Similarities

1. Adule males = Bucks; Adult females = Does; Babies = Fawn

2. The "rut" or mating season usually begins in the fall as does go into estrus for a period of a

    few days and males become more aggressive, competing for mates. Does may mate with more

    than one buck and go back into estrus within a month if they do not settle.
3.The gestation period is about 190–200 days, with fawns born in the spring, staying with their

   mothers during the summer and being weaned in the fall after about 60–75 days.

4. A buck's antlers fall off during the winter, to grow again in preparation for the next season's

    rut.

5. Fawns are born with white spots and serve as a form of camoflauge.  During the first summer

    the spots will disapear.

6. In summer, it chiefly forages on not only herbaceous plants, but also various berries.  In

    winter, it forages on conifers and twigs of deciduous trees and shrubs.  In season, it eats acorns

    and apples.

7. Deer are capable of producing audible noises, unique to each animal. Fawns release a high-

    pitched squeal, known as a bleat, to call out to their mothers. Does make maternal grunts when

    searching for their bedded fawns. Both does and bucks snort, a sound that often signals

    danger. As well as snorting, bucks also grunt at a pitch that gets lower with maturity. Bucks

    are unique in their grunt-snort-wheeze pattern that often shows aggression and hostility.

8. Bucks will attempt to copulate with as many females as possible, losing physical condition

    since they rarely eat or rest during the rut.

9. The general geographical trend is for the rut to be shorter in duration at increased latitude.

    There are many factors as to how intense the "rutting season" will be. Air temperature is one

    major factor of this intensity. Any time the temperature rises above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the

    males will do much less traveling looking for females, or they will be subject to overheating or

    dehydrating.

10. Another factor for the strength in rutting activity is competition. If there are numerous males

      in a particular area, then they will compete more for the females. If there are fewer males or

      more females, then the selection process will not need to be as competitive.

Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus)

1. Adult males = Billy; Adult females = Nannies; Babie = Kids
2. Both male and female mountain goats have beards, short tails, and long black horns, 15–28 cm in length, which contain yearly growth rings.
3. Male goats also have longer horns and a longer beard than nannies.
4. The mountain goat's feet have inner pads that provide traction and cloven hooves that can be spread apart as needed. Also, the tip of their feet have Dewclaws that are sharp to keep them from slipping.
5. Mountain goats are herbivores and spend most of their time grazing. Their diet includes grasses, herbs, sedges, ferns, moss, lichen, twigs and leaves from the low-growing shrubs
6. In the wild, mountain goats usually live twelve to fifteen years, with their lifespan limited by the wearing down of their teeth.
7. Kids are born in the spring (late May or early June) after a six month gestation period.
8. Although they are mostly weaned within one month, kids follow their mothers closely for the first year of life
9. Mountain goats reach sexual maturity at about thirty months. Nannies in a herd undergo synchronized estrus in late October through early December.  Mature billies will stare at nannies for long periods, dig rutting pits, and fight each other in showy scuffles. After the breeding season is over, males and females move away from each other, with the adult billies breaking up into small bands of two or three individuals. Nannies form loose-knit nursery groups of up to 50 animals.
10. Nannies can be very competitive and protective of their space and food sources. They will fight with one another for dominance in conflicts that can ultimately include all the nannies in the herd. In these battles, nannies will circle each other with their heads lowered, showing off their horns. To avoid fighting, an animal may show a posture of non-aggression by stretching low to the ground.