Hugh Robinson and team at the Large Carnivore lab at Washington State U. examined reasons for declining Mule deer populations across the Western States. Especially where "Mulies" are sympatric and sharing a wide ranging landscape with White tail deer, Mulies are experiencing severe population declines. While Mule deer prefer unaltered woodlands versus Whitel tails responding favorably to man made clearcuts and edge effect cuttings, this by itself does not seem to account for the fact in the study area of Southeastern British Columbia during the late 90's the Whitetail population was 3 times that of the Mule deer herd.Mulies prefer higher elevation habitat whereas White tails are more valley and mid slope occupant dwellers which allow for the two species to not compete greatly for food resources.
The Authors conclude that the rapid acceleration of Whitetails has Cougars not only feasting on this bounty....................but also taking Mule deer wherever they come across them. Even if Managers cull the cougar population, immigrating younger cougars quickly take up the slack of their departed brethren,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,keeping pressure on the smaller herds of Mulies. Note that there is a small population of wolves in Southern British Columbia and where wolves and cougars are sympatric, cougars usually protect themselves by occupying rockier uplands that wolves find more difficult as it relates to chasing(rather than ambushing which is the way of the Cougar) down their prey.
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