![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/whitetaileddeer140425bs.jpg\")
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No, the Lake has not been invaded by giant eels; that is the conger. I am discussing\u00a0congeners: species that share a\u00a0genus. The genus of interest here is the\u00a0Odocoileus,<\/i> what most people refer to as deer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
We have two species of this genus\u00a0around the Lake: white-tailed deer, and mule deer. A rule of thumb is that the mule deer occupies the mountain slopes and the white-tailed, the valley floor. The one I see frequently (often in my yard) is the white-tailed. Less often do I spot a mule deer.<\/p>\n
Early last Friday morning, I saw both species within five minutes. They are congeners: the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus<\/i>) is found across most of the continent\u00a0while the mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus<\/i>) is a western species. That their\u00a0ranges overlap in southeastern B.C.\u00a0is clear from Friday morning’s pictures.<\/p>\n
The white-tailed deer has smallish ears and large tail, the underside of which is white (for which it is named).<\/p>\n
\u00a0The mule deer has largish ears (for which it is named) and a rope-like tail with a black end.![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.kootenay-lake.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/muledeer140425s.jpg\")
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No, the Lake has not been invaded by giant eels; that is the conger. I am discussing\u00a0congeners: species that share a\u00a0genus. The genus of interest here is the\u00a0Odocoileus, what most people refer to as deer.\u00a0 We have two species … Continue reading