The California Mule Deer, a subspecies of Mule Deer, stands as the largest herbivore gracing the Rancho Ventura Conservation Trust. They can be found as far as the Sierra Nevada’s western slopes to the central coast and down to the Los Angeles Basin.
Wildlife
Deer
Wildlife Corridor
These deer are closely tied to the land’s topology, preferring the rolling hillside terrain and the cool canopy habitats provided by oak woodlands and riparian zones. The wildlife corridors at Rancho Ventura are essential for the Mule Deer, facilitating safe movement and migration. This ensures access to water sources and provides various locations of refuge during the heat of summer.
Foraging Habits
The California Mule Deer are crepuscular, being most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk. Their diet is composed of high-quality, nutrient-dense plant materials including leaves, shoots, forbs, grasses, and flower buds. This diet allows them to thrive and maintain the energy needed to navigate the rugged terrain of Southern California.
Characteristics
These deer are easily recognizable by their large mule-like ears, eyes positioned for wide views, and a grey-brown coat providing excellent camouflage. They range in size with does weighing between 95-200 pounds and bucks ranging up to 330 pounds. Also, the males are adorned with antlers for over half the year. Unique to their species, the Mule Deer exhibit “stotting,” a bounding gait allowing them to clear vegetation and rugged terrain, helping them escape predators like coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats.
Come and witness the grace of the California Mule Deer at Rancho Ventura, where the beauty of wildlife is matched only by the stunning vistas of their natural habitat. These deer are not just a sight to behold but an integral part of the conservation trust, symbolizing the harmony of nature’s cycles at work.
