We spotted a small herd of mule deer this morning, on a rare weekend workday. Dr. K. insisted that Research Associate Becca and I accompany her into the field for some Sunday research, and we were trudging along a narrow desert path when the deer bounded out ahead of us. Fortunately, Becca was off chasing a jackrabbit and didn't see the deer or else she would have been after them in a flash. Dr. K. and I watched them bounce across the desert floor, rapidly creating distance between themselves and us. When startled, mule deer spring like kangaroos across the land, all four feet hitting the ground at the same time. In brief bursts of speed they can reach 40-45 miles per hour. Check the ears on the doe at left and you can easily see why the animals are called "mule" deer.
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We've never seen deer on this trail before, so this was a real treat, even though I had a terrible time convincing the researchers to work on a Sunday.
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