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Blacktail Deer

Blacktail Deer

by | Aug 19, 2020 | Animal

Where are Blacktail Deer found?

Blacktail Deer are a member of the mule deer family, though they have many notable attributes and characteristics that make them unique to themselves. Blacktail Deer are found in Northern America; more specifically, California, Oregon, Washington, the Canadian Province of British Columbia, and Alaska.

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Distinctions found among Blacktail Deer.

Blacktails are often regarded as either Columbia blacktails or Sitka blacktails; Sitka blacktails are commonly found within Alaska, while Columbia blacktails occupy all other noted regions. In addition, Sitka blacktails have a meager frame in comparison to Columbia black tails, a ratio of 8o:130 pounds for does and 120:200 pounds for the bucks. Blacktail deer have a reddish-brown tone to their fur in the summertime and an ash to dark brown/gray color in the winter; they have an easily identifiable stark black tail and the bucks have bifurcated antlers that are full-grown at age 4 or 5 years. And they are also nocturnal, preferring the morning and evening hours.

When does rutting season begin for Blacktail Deer?

November to December is the rutting season for blacktails, with fawns born in May or June. Their lifespans are from 9 to 10 years with a typical lifespan of 6 years; Blacktail deer are burdened by a long list of primal adversaries consisting of bears, bobcats, coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions. The deer seek refuge in woodland areas; Blacktail deer are unlike mule deer, being that they spend their lives within an area of a few square miles and only migrate when changing altitude to evade snowfall. Moreover, Blacktail deer tend to prefer a mild, coastal climate, one that is often subject to heavy rainfall. With a vegetarian-based diet from acorns to berries, grasses to woodier growths, Blacktail deer are able to find solace in woodland areas; they often times near the edge of the forest, but have the capability of seemingly vanishing when spooked, which inherently grants them their notoriety of being the “ghosts of the forest.”

Mule Deer

Mule Deer

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Why are Mule Deer called Mule Deer?

Mule Deer, the inhabitants of western North America with a prominent and idiosyncratic outward appearance in comparison to their close relatives. The most notable trait, the trait responsible for their name, is their large ears that are more reminiscent of those belonging to a mule. Their sizable ears allow Mule deer to have exceptional hearing, along with their excellent eyesight. Similar to both Blacktail and Whitetail deer, Mule deer are nocturnal since they possess the ability to see at night and often find themselves out in correspondence with the moon.

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What are the behaviors and attributes of the Mule Deer?

Furthermore, Mule deer are sociable animals and remain in herds that expand for added protection in the wintertime and become much smaller at the start of the summer; nonetheless, Mule deer herds are founded upon families of multi-generations with only the bucks preferring a more solitary existence before rutting season. The rutting season of Mule deer share the same timeframe as other related deer subspecies, beginning in the late-fall months, with fawns born in the early summer months; 1 to 2 fawns are usually birthed at a time. The appearance of fawns is also similar to relative subspecies of deer with a reddish coat, spotted with white; as Mule deer grow older, their coats have red undertones amongst their light/medium brown coat in the spring and summer months, turning to a grayer color in the winter; they sometimes have darker patches on the tops of their heads and noses, a white spot on the rump, and their tails being white and black at the tip. Does do not grow antlers, while bucks do; the antlers of a buck have a symmetrical “fork-like” unique and identifiable appearance.

Further understanding the Mule Deer.

In addition, Mule deer, on average, weigh 130 to 300 pounds, having a studier build and measuring 3 feet tall from the shoulder; they can also reach up to 40mph. Mule deer have a 9 to 11-year lifespan spent amongst the trees of the forest or the shrublands of the desert. Being herbivores, Mule deer survive off of a plant-based diet entailing grasses and forbs. They constantly have to be on the alert when foraging; some of their most prominent predators are coyotes, bobcats, wolves, bears, and, regrettably, automobiles. They also fell victim to unregulated hunting practices in the United States, particularly Colorado in the early 1900s, which resulted in a statewide hunting ban to regain the depleted population of Mule deer. Today, the herds of Mule deer are plentiful and prosperous where they roam.

Whitetail Deer

Whitetail Deer

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

Where to find the Whitetail Deer.

Whitetail Deer are a wondrous and beautiful subspecies of deer found throughout numerous regions of the world, including North and South America as well as Europe. Given this array of territories, whitetails are able to thrive in diversified habitats; these habitats include forests, tropical savannas, and wetlands that are all temperate with mild weather conditions. Being herbivores, they live off the land that they occupy; their vegetarian diet consists of primarily legumes, leaves, and cacti as well. The lifespan of a Whitetail deer varies from 2 to 20 years after their population was once severely depleted specifically in the United States as a result of insufficient hunting laws; as of today, the whitetail deer population is steady.

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When does breeding season begin for the Whitetail Deer?

Moreover, breeding season begins in the fall months of late October and continues on until early November, with fawns born in the months of May and June; one to three fawns are born at a time. A young doe will stay with her mother for two years after birth, while young bucks stay with his mother for a single year. Whitetails typically reach a weight of 110 to 300 pounds, being recognized as the smallest subspecies of deer in North America. Nevertheless, whitetails demonstrate astounding frolicking and leaping capabilities; whitetails can reach up to 40mph and can bound a remarkable 8 feet into the air, while covering a span of 30 feet.

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Easily recognize and understand the Whitetail Deer.

Whitetails have a notable reddish fur that grays in the winter, and bucks are easily recognizable through their antlers that they shed annually in the wintertime. In addition, Whitetail deer are mainly nocturnal, grazing at twilight or the breaking of dawn; the structure of their eyes is a contributing factor to this fact. A whitetails’ eyes biologically have more rods and fewer cones, enabling them to see exceptionally well at night. All of these noted traits allow Whitetail deer to evade their enemies consisting of bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, and more that are dependent on the particular regions inhabited. Finally, named for the white underneath their tails that stand and become prevalent as they run, Whitetail deer are an incredible animal with many extraordinary facets to be studied and appreciated for all time.

Shiras Moose

Shiras Moose

by | Sep 10, 2020 | Animal

What is the smallest subspecies of moose?

Shiras Moose, commonly called the Yellowstone or Wyoming moose, are recognized as being the smallest subspecies of moose. The Shiras moose weighs an average of 1,000 pounds and measures up to 6 feet tall from the shoulder. Solely the bulls maintain identifiable racks that span 40 to 50 inches wide, rooted together with branches that grow backwards. The Yellowstone moose is the lightest in color of the moose subspecies. The color of the fur on their face becomes lighter with the summer season, though the body tends to remain a coppery tone.

The Wyoming moose has an excess of skin and hair on the throat, a prominent hump over the shoulders, and relatively long legs. These moose are nimble with the ability to steadily maintain a speed of 35 mph and gracefully swim within deep waters. Though they are the smallest of the moose subspecies, the Wyoming moose is at times the largest of “big game” animals when hunted for sport. This is true in states such as Colorado, where the moose were once transplanted in order to define and broaden their population.

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Where can the Shiras Moose be found?

In addition to Wyoming and Colorado, the Shiras moose has a presence within the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. There are also located throughout the United States. The states they reside in are Idaho, Utah, and Washington. The Shiras moose are among the forest dwellers who find food amid the woodier substances that surround them.

They tend to eat aspen, birch, willow, as well as leaves, and twigs. And also, the Shiras moose will spend time within the shallow waters of rivers and lakes, harvesting aquatic-based sustenance, skimming the bottoms of the pools. In total, the Shiras moose consumes 50 pounds/per day as a means of sustaining themselves.

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What is the disposition of the Shiras Moose?

Many moose in general have a reputation for being aggressive and the Yellowstone moose is no exception, though their behavior intensifies during mating season. Run-of-the-mill alcaldes consists of moose ramming into cars and actually posing a threat to people who come too close, charging at them. Moose are the cause of more human deaths than bears. Moreover, habits that transpire when the rutting season begins is their tendency to grind their antlers against the trunks of trees and they will dual against other moose to breed with a particular cow.

When does mating season begin for the Shiras Moose?

Mating season for the Shiras moose begins in September and ends in October. The cows will experience a gestation period that lasts 230 days or 7 ½ months, with the calves being born in May. One to two calves are born at a time. The calves will weigh about 30 pounds at birth and resemble a more reddish color. The calf will stay with the mother, learning how to care for itself and survive amongst the environment until the calf is about 1 ½ year old. When the mother has her next calf that is when young moose leave their mothers protection.

The calves have an increased mortality rate due to the predators of the Shiras moose, which are founded upon the bears, wolves, and mountain lions. Nonetheless, with their keen ability to adapt, the Shiras moose is brilliant sight to be seen and holds individual traits that establish a gleaming reputation.

Nilgai Antelope

Nilgai Antelope

by | Aug 21, 2020 | Animal

What lands are the Nilgai Antelope native to?

Nilgai Antelope are native to India, the country from which they inherited their name that means “blue cow” or “blue bull.” With their habitat situated at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains, the nilgai prefers hillsides, grass steppes, as well as cultivated areas with a lesser abundance of trees. Because of their disdain for immensely cold weather, the nilgai easily adapted to the climates of southern Texas when they were brought over in the 1920s to occupy exhibits of local Texan zoos. In the 1930s, the nilgai were released into the surrounding areas of Texas where their populations continued to grow as they thrived among the land that had a lack of predation, when their known predator, the tiger, had been a reason for their decline in numbers within their native lands.

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How to recognize a Nilgai.

The nilgai have a distinct appearance and a recognizable one, too. Being the largest of Indian antelopes, the nilgai bulls weigh an average of 450 to 530 pounds, while the cows average 330 to 450 pounds. From the shoulder, they are an average height of 4 to 5 feet tall. The nilgai have a large body and relatively slender legs in comparison; the bulls have horns that measure 5 inches long, while the cows have no horns. The calves and cows maintain a tan/brown coat, and the bulls acquire a blue/black wiry-like coat as they get older. Both the nilgai bull and the cow have a mane on the back of the neck and the underside of the neck, with white fur patches close to their eyes, along their cheeks, and under their throats as well as stomachs, the inside of their hind legs, and underneath their narrow tales. In addition, nilgai are herbivores; they survive off of seeds, succulents, flowers, fruit, grasses, herbs, as well as leaves. Their preference of agricultural crops is a primary reason they become poached by another known predator, the hunter. Nilgai typically remain silent, though they have been known to rumble, especially when disturbed; and when provoked, the nilgai can reach speeds of up to 29mph.

When does mating season begin for the Nilgai?

Though the mating season of the Nilgai can be year around, in Texas, mating season begins November and lasts up until March. The bulls will mark their territory, defending the cows they will mate with and facing off against other bulls, who near their territory, through displaying intimidating postures with behavior that can escalate to neck wrestling and the knocking of horns. Moreover, after the 8-month gestation period, the calves are born in September into the late fall months. Nilgai often give birth to two calves and sometimes three are born at once; the calves weigh about 15 pounds when they are born. Although nilgai face threats through declining native habitats and heavy poaching in some areas, they maintain steady populations of 10,000 in India and 15,000 in Texas.

Pronghorn Antelope

Pronghorn Antelope

by | Aug 20, 2020 | Animal

What is the second fastest mammal in the world?

Pronghorn Antelopes are renowned far and wide for their speed and distances traveled through extensive seasonal migrations; being the second fastest mammal in the world with the capability of steadily maintaining close to 60 mph and migrating a total 300 miles every year, pronghorns demonstrate both astounding endurance and phenomenal physical characteristics. Pronghorns are closely related to goats and antelopes. And they are native as well as solely found within North America, inhabiting the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. Pronghorns prefer open plains and grasslands; the greatest numbers being found within Yellowstone and the Red Desert of Wyoming, with herd sizes of up to 400 pronghorns.

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How to recognize and understand the Pronghorn Antelope.

The outward appearance of the pronghorn is an additional notable characteristic in and of itself as well; the pronghorn’s name is derived from their horns that have a notch, which creates a sort of prong shape. Male and female pronghorns both have horns, though the males’ horns measure up to a foot tall, whereas the females’ horns are only mere bumps in comparison. Pronghorn antelope average about 4 ½ feet in length, 3 feet in height, and a weight of 90 to 150 pounds with the males weighing more than the females; though they resemble deer, they are much smaller. Moreover, they have an intricate fur pattern consisting of a tan/reddish top fur coat with white lining around the throat and face, as well as broad white patches along the stomach and the rump. The white rump of the pronghorn is made up of longer white hairs that will stand up when the pronghorn is alarmed; this attribute serves as a silent warning sign when other pronghorns are around to notice. With large eyes that offer 300-degree vision, pronghorns will notice the white hairs stand on a member of the herd and instantly know that a predator or impending threat is lurking; the rump warning heightens the chances of the pronghorn’s escape.

Why do Pronghorn Antelope migrate such far distances?

In addition, pronghorns are herbivores with a diet consisting of grasses, from which they get the majority of their water intake from after digesting their food twice. Their migrations are propelled through obtaining a viable food source throughout the year; therefore, where the herd of pronghorns resides, determines the distance of their migration when winter comes. The elected region of the pronghorn also defines when mating season takes place – either in the late summer or fall months. Males are naturally aggressive when defending what has been marked as their mating grounds, where they will defend the females from other male pronghorns, with the intention of mating with numerous females within that territory. The female pronghorns typically give birth to 1 or 2 fawns in the springtime; the fawns will spend their first year with their mother and then become self-sufficient thereafter. Pronghorn antelopes have an average lifespan of 10 years, with common threats being coyotes, wolves, bobcats, and automobiles. These land rovers with the ability to maintain their top speed for a longer duration than a cheetah, the fastest mammal on Earth, allot the pronghorn an impressive and remarkable world-wide reputation.