Note: Here's my final draft of my final project. I'll add the pictures (figures) in when I have the bandwidth. Thank God this semester is over. The formatting might be kinda crappy because Word doesn't translate well into writer's.
Maya Nibbe
Professor Shlueter
ENG 1022
2 May 2023
I live in a spectacular place; a place known worldwide for its natural beauty, numerous wildlife, and vibrant culture. In fact, I was born and raised here, and I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. It’s a naturalist’s paradise. You could live here for a thousand years, and never run out of things to do or places to explore. There is certainly no place on earth quite like Colorado.
I consider myself a lifelong naturalist, as I’ve been obsessed with nature and wildlife my entire life. Both my parents were supportive of my interests, though they weren’t nearly as into nature and animals as I was. Still, through my mom’s side of the family, I got into hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. And, through my dad’s side, I got into motocross, off-roading, and livestock farming. Needless to say, I love nature and wildlife, and care deeply about the health and wellbeing of our world’s wilderness and wildlife.
Unfortunately, the world’s wildlife has been on a steep decline since the turn of the century, which includes the wildlife that call our state and country home. According to an article published by the World Wildlife Fund, global wildlife populations have declined by an average of almost 70% since 1970 (Hirsheimer and Rohr)! This number includes the United States, and the state in which I live.
Indeed, even in the United States, where conservation efforts have been robust and successful starting in the early 1900s when Theodore Roosevelt signed the Conservation Act into law (Department of the Interior), our wildlife and wilderness are struggling to survive for a myriad of reasons, many of them directly caused by humanity.
I know, I know. What a cliché and predictable thing to say. But, it’s true. The evidence that humans are largely to blame for the decline of wilderness and wildlife is overwhelming, and it’s visible everywhere you look, including here in Colorado.
Humanity’s impact on nature is undeniable, from highways to subdivisions, to barbed-wire fences and powerlines, to oil fields and powerplants, to city skylines and hazy skies. Our hiking trails are often littered with dog waste bags, old waterbottles, and empty food containers. Our rivers and reserviors are poluted with trash and tangled fishing lines, suffocating everything that relies on that water to survive. Roadways and railways are deathtraps for wildlife throughout Colorado; there are roughly 4,000 reported vehicle collisions involving wildlife in Colorado each year, though that number is likely much higher if we include unreported collisions (Danielson et al.).
But, car accidents involving wildlife are merely the very top of a very large, very dangerous iceburg.
Colorado is a very desirable place to live, and our population has skyrocketted over the last thirty thirty years, from a little over 3 million people in 1990, to almost 6 million people in 2021 (USA Facts). Naturally, as more people move to the state, the natural world takes the brunt of the impact. After all, as more people move to Colorado, more houses must be built, and more people visit our national parks and public lands, causing natural habitats to shrink, and adding stress to our wildlife populations. The loss of vital habitat, coupled with an increase of human foottraffic through our wilderness, spell disaster for the survival of our wildlife and wilderness as a whole.
There are numerous indicators that can tell us exactly how our wilderness and wildlife are doing. One way of finding out how healthy our wilderness and wildlife are, is by observing how individual living things are doing in their native ecosystems. These things are known as “indicator species”. According to an article published in the Encyclopedia of the Puget Sound, “An indicator species is an organism whose presence, absence or abundance reflects a specific environmental condition. Indicator species can signal a change in the biological condition of a particular ecosystem, and thus may be used as a proxy to diagnose the health of an ecosystem.” (McDonough, et al).
In other words, an indicator species is a living thing that can give us a lot of vital information about the health of the ecosystem that it lives in. For instance, we use the color of our lawns to tell whether or not our grass is healthy. A lush, green lawn indicates that the grass is getting enough water and nutrients. But a dry, yellowed lawn indicates that the grass isn’t getting enough water and/or nutrients. And, if the lawn is dry and yellowed, it means that the lawn is likely unfit for other things besides grass, such as worms and grasshoppers. The same idea can be applied to all sorts of living things in any given ecosystem, assuming you know what to look out for.
Mule Deer are one such species in Colorado that can tell us a lot about the environment they exist in, as they very much rely on a strict diet of native forage to survive. Sadly, they’re not doing too well. Their habitat is dying, taking them and everything else with it.
The future of the Mule Deer, if we do nothing to help them, looks grim. Their overall population is not anywhere near what they should be, and is seemingly only declining as the years go on.
Before I delve deeper into the topic of declining Mule Deer populations, and what their status says about the wilderness as a whole, let me explain what a Mule Deer is.
What is a Mule Deer?
There are several different species of deer native to North America, including Moose, Elk, Whitetail Deer, and Mule Deer. Blacktail Deer, which are especially populous in the Pacific Northwest, are a subspecies of Mule Deer, just like Sonoran Pronghorn are a subspecies of the pronghorn found all throughout the Great Plains (MDF).
Mule Deer are known as Mule Deer because… well… they look like mules with their huge ears and grey-brown fur (though they turn a little redder in the spring and summer). They were first written about by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805 (Musselman), though they were known for much longer by indigenous tribes who relied on the Mule Deer for materials to make food, clothing, and shelter (Kuhnlein and Humphries).
Mule Deer also have different tail colors than Whitetail Deer. Whitetail Deer have huge, fluffy tails that are brown on top and white below, but Mule Deer have skinny, wiry tails that are all white with black tips. While Whitetail Deer use their tails to warn other deer of danger (Carpenter), Mule Deer do not. Instead, Mule Deer communicate with each other in other ways, such as by pinning their ears like mules would, as I’ve observed many times while hiking around my neighborhood in Ken Caryl, Colorado.
Aside from being deer with big ears, big attitudes, and black-tipped tails, Muleys have differently shaped antlers than those belonging to their Whitetailed cousins. While Whitetail deer have a singular antler beam that curls inwards and has points sprouting off of the main antler beam, Mule Deer antlers grow more towards the sky, and the main beam splits into two forks, which then split into two more forks (and sometimes more). There is also usually a point closer towards the base of the antler that sticks straight up, much like the spike found at the base of Whitetail Deer antlers.
Like Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer shed their antlers after every rutting season, and their new antlers begin to grow right away. The older the deer, the bigger their antlers grow. The bigger their antlers grow, the sooner they will shed after the rut (MDF).
Immediately after shedding their antlers, the new rack starts to grow, blanketed in a thin layer of velvety hair. Muleys grow their antlers rapidly over the spring and summer months. Towards the end of summer and into the fall, the velvet on their antlers gets itchy, driving Mule Deer bucks to scrape their antlers against anything that can withstand them, to get the itchy velvet off their antlers (MSU).
Mule Deer are also highly sensitive to their environment, which is a big reason why they’re such a good indicator species. They have small, sensitive stomachs, and therefore have to be very careful about what they eat. Their diet depends upon the seasons, and what is and isn’t available. During the spring and summer, Mule Deer will graze upon young, green, and flowering foliage. During the late fall and throughout the winter, Muleys will eat almost anything that’s available to them, such as the woody stems of dried sagebrush, or green pine needles (MDF).
If a winter is particularly harsh, the government will often implement an emergency feeding program to help ungulate wildlife survive long enough to see things green up. However, unlike your typical elk or “corn-fed Whitetail”, Muleys don’t usually benefit from emergency feeding programs due to their browsing habits and fragile digestive systems (“Understanding Mule Deer and Winter Feeding”). Therefore, if an ecosystem is in rough shape, so will the Muleys be in that ecosystem.
And if the Muleys start to struggle in an ecosystem, it’s not a stretch to say that all of the wildlife and wilderness in that ecosystem will also start to struggle.
The Decline of the Mule Deer
Unfortunately, over the last few decades or so, overall Mule Deer populations have been steadily declining, despite efforts to increase their numbers across the state and the West as a whole. There are a myriad of reasons behind this steady decline in Muley numbers, most of which are human caused. As I mentioned previously, Colorado’s resident population has nearly doubled since 1990 (USA Facts), which obviously means that more infrastructure has been (and is being) built to accommodate this influx of people.
This means that companies are buying up wide open spaces once utilized by wilderness and wildlife, to build more houses and businesses, thus taking land away from Mule Deer. This shatters Mule Deer territory, which is also known as habitat fragmentation (Snow). Habitat fragmentation is one of the biggest threats to Mule Deer (and virtually all other wildlife) today, because Mule Deer, like many other North American ungulates, are migratory animals. Unfortunately, roads, highways, railways, fences, construction sites, suburbs, croplands, and many, many more examples of human infrastructure, have made migration and foraging much harder for all wildlife, including and especially Mule Deer (Communications and Publishing).
Plus, as more people move to Colorado, more people are recreating in Colorado’s wilderness, putting more stress on already struggling wildlife populations throughout the state (BHA). This greater stress often leads to higher mortality rates among Mule Deer and other such animals, as it forces them to use up valuable fat during the fall and winter months (BHA). This is why the Bureau of Land Management (among other government wilderness agencies) often close off certain portions of public land throughout the year (BLM); to give wildlife time to rest away from people.
Evidently, these closures aren’t nearly enough to secure the survival of the Mule Deer, as their populations continue to hover at no more than 400,000 Muleys across the state; well below CPW’s goal of 500,000-600,000 Mule Deer statewide as of 2022 (Anderson). Land closures are only one component of an entire system that must be created and implemented to safeguard the Muleys we have left, and allow their populations to thrive once again.
What if we let the Mule Deer go extinct?
Previously, I mentioned that Mule Deer are known as an “indicator species”, meaning that if Mule Deer are seeing a decline in numbers, so should other wildlife. Unfortuately, that’s exactly what’s happening. This year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to issue 40% fewer hunting licenses for Northwest Colorado for the 2023 season than they did last year (Finley), because other wildlife populations, such as elk and pronghorn, are also suffering from population declines.
Perhaps, they aren’t suffering nearly as much as the Mule Deer are, as elk and pronghorn do benefit from the government’s emergency feeding protocols (their stomachs aren’t as sensitive as the Mule Deer’s, so they can handle whatever the government feeds them). But, our elk, moose, and pronghorn are still suffering nontheless; suffering to the point that available hunting licenses are to be cut by nearly half this year to cushion the struggling herds (Finley).
But, hunting is far from the only recreational activity threatened by the possible extinction of Mule Deer.
The decline of our Mule Deer indicates an overall decline in the health of our wilderness and wildlife. The stability and diversity of our ecosystems are imperative to not only the survival of wildlife, but also the survival of the wilderness, and the survival of humanity (The Royal Society).
As I talked about earlier, given that Muleys are an “indicator species”, if they’re struggling, so too are other wild animals across the West. And if other animals are struggling, that indicates that our ecosystems aren’t as healthy as they once were. And, if our ecosystems are unhealthy and dying, then our very society is at risk of crumbling as well. Because, as much as some folks would have us to believe, we humans still rely on healthy ecosystems to survive, just as much as the Mule Deer do.
Biodiversity is vital to life’s survival on this planet. According to an article written for the National Park Service, “Humans depend upon biodiversity for survival, such as for the foods we eat, medicines we use to stay healthy, and materials we wear or use to build our homes. These services are the tangible products or items that we and other species consume for survival. Although this may be less obvious to the average American who purchases supermarket food from a select few grain and livestock species, a large variety of organisms maintain human consumption needs. Historically, this variety was much greater, but even today, wildlife serves as an important protein and iron source for much of the developing world, and botanical products serve as the base for both modern and traditional medicines. For example, 118 of the 150 most commonly used drugs are based on natural sources (ESA 1997).” (Buttke et al.).
If the Mule Deer are suffering as much as they are due to mainly human-caused problems, that also indicates that our wilderness as a whole is dying. And, if the wilderness dies, guess what? So do we.
Everyone, from the Downtown Denver Dweller, to the literal Mountain Man, ought to be concerned enough about the decline in our wildlife populations to do their part to conserve, protect, and manage the wilderness and wildlife we have left. Because, if we fail to act now while we still have ample time to do so, we will one day wake up to an empty, uninhabitable land.
To Conclude
When asked about what he thought of Colorado, Theodore Roosevelt said, “The scenery bankrupts the English language.” (CBS). As someone who was born and raised in this beautiful state, I have to agree with him. But, it can only remain this beautiful and diverse if we all do our part in keeping it that way.
Everyone can do something to help out our struggling wildlife. The simple act of respecting land closures and staying on-trail as much as possible (especially during the winter and spring), can tremendously lessen the stress Mule Deer and other wildlife experience when around a potential threat. That said, I’m not at all saying people should avoid recreating in Colorado’s open space altogether. In fact, I encourage everyone I meet to explore and fall in love with the wilderness.
All that I’m asking is for people to follow basic rules, both written and unwritten, when recreating in the wilderness. If everyone did just that, the Mule Deer will have a much better chance of survival, as will the rest of our wildlife and wilderness.
But, if you want to go further than simply following the most basic rules and etiquette of the wilderness, there is something for everyone to do to more directly ensure the survival of Mule Deer, from volunteering at a wildlife rehab center, to purchasing a fishing license, to pulling out invasive weeds and replacing them with native forage, to carrying a trash bag with you wherever you go, or simply donating money to a conservation organization of your choice (such as the Mule Deer Foundation). Hell, you can even make a career out of protecting and managing wildlife (though, I understand that not everyone’s as engrossed in nature and wildlife as I am).
But, whatever you choose to do or not do, make sure it’s a choice that has only a positive impact on our Muleys. Because, if we lose the Mule Deer, we risk losing nearly every iconic western animal, which puts our entire wilderness and civilization at risk of becoming extinct, too.
Works Cited (MLA 9)
Anderson, Chuck. “Mule Deer.” Colorado Encyclopedia. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023. https://coloradoencyclopedia.org/article/mule-deer#:~:text=Over%20the%20past%20forty%20years,600%2C000%20to%20about%20400%2C000%20today.
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. “Mule Deer.” BHA. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023. https://www.backcountryhunters.org/mule_deer.
Buttke, Danielle, et al. “Benefits of Biodiversity to Human Health and Well-Being.” National Park Service. 28 Aug. 2018. https://www.nps.gov/articles/parksciencev31-n1_buttke_etal-htm.htm#:~:text=Humans%20depend%20upon%20biodiversity%20for,use%20to%20build%20our%20homes.
Bureau of Land Management. “Seasonal Closures.” BLM. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023. https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/recreation-activities/colorado/closures.
Carpenter, Tom. “8 Ways Whitetails Communicate with Their Tails, and What Each Means for Hunters.” Outdoor Life. 29 Aug. 2017. https://www.outdoorlife.com/8-ways-whitetails-communicate-with-their-tails-and-what-each-means-for-hunters/.
CBS Colorado. “Top Scenic Drives in Colorado.” CBS News. 9 Oct. 2011. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/top-scenic-drives-in-colorado/.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “Colorado’s Mule Deer Story.” Accessed 27 Apr. 2023. https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/CO-MuleDeerStory.aspx.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “The Story of Colorado’s Mule Deer.” Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Accessed 30 Apr. 2023. https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/MuleDeer/ColoradosMuleDeerStory.pdf.
Communications and Publishing. “Energy development in migration corridors affects mule deer access to best forage.” United States Geological Survey. 5 Oct. 2022. https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/energy-development-migration-corridors-affects-mule-deer-access-best.
Danielson, Jessie, et al. “Senate Bill 22-151 Safe Crossings for Wildlife & Motorists.” CDOT. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023. https://largelandscapes.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Fact-Sheet-on-Senate-Bill-22-151-Safe-Crossings-for-Colorado-Wildlife-Motorists.pdf.
Finley, Bruce. “CPW Plans to Cut NW Colorado Hunting Licenses by more than 40% to Protect Challenged Herds.” The Denver Post. 28 Mar. 2023. https://www.denverpost.com/2023/03/28/colorado-parks-wildlife-hunting-licenses/.
Hirsheimer, Brooke, and Brendan Rohr. “69% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970, says new WWF report.” World Wildlife Fund. 13 Oct. 2022. WWF. https://www.worldwildlife.org/press-releases/69-average-decline-in-wildlife-populations-since-1970-says-new-wwf-report#:~:text=69%25%20average%20decline%20in%20wildlife,WWF%20report%20%7C%20Press%20Releases%20%7C%20WWF.
Kuhnlein, V. Harriet, and Murray M. Humphries. “Deer: General.” Traditional Animal Foods of Indigenous Peoples of Northern North America. Accessed 6 April 2023. Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment. http://traditionalanimalfoods.org/mammals/hoofed/page.aspx?id=6133.
Musselman, Joseph A. “Mule Deer”. Lewis and Clark. Accessed 6 April 2023. Lewis and Clark.Org. https://lewis-clark.org/sciences/mammals/deer/mule-deer/.
McDonough, Caitlin, et al. “Indicator Species.” Encyclopedia of the Puget Sound. 14 Feb. 2013. https://www.eopugetsound.org/articles/indicator-species.
Mule Deer Foundation. “Mule Deer and Black-tailed Deer Facts: An Overview of Odocoileus hemionus.” MDF. Accessed 11 April 2023. https://muledeer.org/mule-deer-black-tailed-facts-biology/#:~:text=Black%2Dtailed%20deer%20are%20a,America%20from%20California%20to%20Alaska.
Mississippi State University. “Antler Growth Cycle.” MSU. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023. https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/growth-cycle.php#:~:text=Antlers%20grow%20rapidly%20from%20their,of%20the%20antler%20is%20completed.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 1.” 2023.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 2.” 2023.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 3.” 2022.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 4.” 2022.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 5.” 2022.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 6.” 2023.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 7.” 2023.
Nibbe, Maya. “Figure 8.” 2023.
Snow B. John. “The Biggest Threats to Mule Deer.” Outdoor Life. 10 Feb. 2023. https://www.outdoorlife.com/conservation/mule-deer-conservation/.
US Department of the Interior. “The Conservation Legacy of Theodore Roosevelt.” 14 Feb. 2020. https://www.doi.gov/blog/conservation-legacy-theodore-roosevelt#:~:text=After%20becoming%20president%20in%201901,is%20found%20across%20the%20country.
USA Facts. “How has the Population Changed in Colorado?” Accessed 25 Apr. 2023. https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/colorado?endDate=2021-01-01&startDate=1990-01-01.
Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Understanding Mule Deer and Winter Feeding: Fact Sheet #2.” Accessed 25 Apr. 2023. https://wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/mule_deer/mdwg-2_winter_feeding.pdf.
“Why is Biodiversity Important?” The Royal Society. Accessed 1 May 2023. https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/biodiversity/why-is-biodiversity-important/#:~:text=Biodiversity%20is%20essential%20for%20the,also%20value%20nature%20of%20itself.
