Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: PrimitiveTim on October 26, 2015, 10:42:31 am

Title: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: PrimitiveTim on October 26, 2015, 10:42:31 am

At 4:30 in this video there are some mule deer and I've seen lots of mule deer since being out west but these out in the desert of SoCal seemed to have especially large ears.  Is there some kind of adaptive reasons to the desert that they might these really large ears like for keeping cooler or something like that?  I love this footage cause it shows how nimble deer are even on cliffs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i8ljJhgDzk

Title: Re: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: Zuma on October 26, 2015, 11:51:24 am

I would agree on the heat exchange. :)
Just look at the size of your ears compared to an eskimos >:D
Jack rabbits are mostly hot dry weather creatures too.
Zuma

PS What about Key deer?
Perhaps it's average temperature and air flow?

Title: Re: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: PrimitiveTim on October 26, 2015, 12:06:51 pm

I think key deer are just a subspecies of white tails so their ears aren't real big.  Also, in the keys they're staying in the dense woods where night time temps will get down to the low 80s even during the hottest part of the year and that's cool compared to nighttime temps in the desert.

Title: Re: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: Zuma on October 26, 2015, 12:13:07 pm

Right on-- More an enviromental feature
than a North vs South geographic one.
Zuma

Title: Re: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: JW_Halverson on October 26, 2015, 11:05:33 pm

You coulda given a little more camera time to the owl girl.












Just sayin'.

Title: Re: Mule Deer Ears
Post by: Blackcoyote on October 27, 2015, 08:47:44 am

radar dishes, man I couldn't imagine the hearing they have - western mule deer are bad enough!