Young and nameless
CALM’s new mule deer have become good friends with animal keeper Eddie Zepeda.
CALM’s newest residents do not seem to have a problem sharing.
It would be hard growing up in new surroundings with people referring to you as "Odocoileus hemionus." Oh sure, you could bring it down a notch - simplifying your name to "Mule Deer." But even then, since there are two of you, how would you know which one they were talking about when the name was mentioned? Such is the current fate of the two newest residents at the California Living Museum (CALM) in Bakersfield.
They had their coming out party on the Oct. 25 "Boo-at-the-Zoo" pre-Halloween event at CALM. Ironically, very little, short of a blatant attempt to scare them, seems to frighten these six month-old fawns. They are facing a brave new world, nameless, but apparently not clueless. And they will not be nameless much longer. A "Help Us Name CALM's New Male Mule Deer Fawns" drive is underway.
Got some names in mind? All you have to do is go to CALM's Web site, http://www.calmzoo.org. On the right hand side of the page click for an entry blank right below the words, "Help us name CALM's new Mule Deer Fawns." Fill in the names on the form and with a one dollar entry fee, mail it to: Name the Mule Deer Fawns — CALM, 10500 Alfred Harrell Hwy, Bakersfield, CA 93306. Or on an upcoming visit to CALM, drop off the entry form and your dollar at the front desk. Deadline for entries is Dec. 31.
Grand prize winners will receive a CALM Family Membership and a plush toy fawn. Winners will be announced Jan. 7. Even if your names are not picked, you are still a winner because the donations go toward improving the Children's Park at CALM.
Now, here are some things to know about the two youngsters that may help give you an idea for names.
Last spring, the two were orphaned and raised by the California Wildlife Center in Calabasas, which planned to release them back into the wild. Unfortunately, the animals became habituated to humans making release impossible. So, CALM is now their new home.
Both bucks are gentle, have distinct personalities and are comfortable in their new surroundings. The largest is outgoing, stays close to the animal keepers and craves attention. The smaller fawn is also friendly but content to chew its cud in the shade.
Mule deer are herbivorous browsers that prefer California's foothill or wooded areas. When fully grown, they can eat up to two pounds a day. They quickly detect motion, even with rather poor eyesight for which a keen sense of hearing compensates. Bucks grow antlers which are shed in mid-winter each year.
Animal keeper Eddie Zepeda said, since their arrival, the two are having an effect on the rest of the herd — three older, females. Dottie had taken lead as the authoritative female figure, a role uncommon among does in a herd. Once the boys arrived, things changed.
"Already the females, who used to be very flighty and cautious, are starting to calm down a bit because of the males' presence," said CALM Curator Don Richardson. "Deer in the wild are very shy and avoid contact with people. That is why the two are with us. They had become so used to being around people that they had lost that fear. They would not have survived in the wild because of their lack of responsiveness to what they would normally fear."
Richardson said Dottie has taken her place in the herd, now — no longer exerting her will. The does are taking their lead from the bucks. Over time, one of the two bucks will emerge as the dominant male and control the herd. It may take three-to-four years to determine that. The other buck will become subservient in his role as part of the herd.
Deer are browsers rather than grazers. Richardson said the distinction is that deer prefer to grab their food off branches, etc., while grazers are primarily grass eaters. This, by the way, is a particularly favorite time for deer. Year round, they feast on alfalfa, cottonwood and willow branches, but during the fall, they love the chance to munch on acorns, which are plentiful on the CALM grounds.
Richardson predicts the new residents will take their place among visitor favorites. "As they get older, visitors will have fun seeing them running and jumping to test their legs," Richardson said.
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