Mule Deer

The California Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus californicus) lives in hilly and mountanous areas of California, often migrating between summer and winter territories. Pre-colnization, the Bay Area saw much larger herds throughout. This mule deer prefers habitats with extensive shrub growth where they can feed on the leaves and twigs of woody plants, most often at dusk and dawn. They are characterized by their large ears, black foreheads, and small, black-tipped white tails. Mule deer can grow to be 3-3.5 feet tall at the shoulders and can weigh between 130-280 pounds. They can also hybridize with the Columbian black-tailed deer.