After Labor Day as the weather begins to change, daylight hours grow fewer and tule elk begin to bugle, enjoying an early evening on the refuge often includes thoughts of other hooved ungulates.
American pronghorn, tule elk and black-tailed deer were once abundant in the Central Valley but hunting by early settlers, loss of habitat and impediments to the animals’ migratory routes such as the California Aqueduct and Interstates 5 and 99 caused near or total extirpation of all three species.
Pronghorn can still be seen in the wild at Carrizo Plains in the extreme southern end of the Valley. Tule elk have been brought back from the brink of extinction and herds can be found in several locations including the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge.
An effort more than 20 years ago by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (formerly Department of Fish and Game) reintroduced a breeding population of black-tailed deer to the federal refuge as well as other nearby wild lands.
That effort resulted in a robust population of several hundred deer now roaming throughout the San Luis national wildlife refuge.
Black-tailed deer range in size from 165 pounds for adult females (does) to 330 pounds for mature males (bucks). Their breeding season is later than the tule elks’ with rut beginning in late fall and lasting to early winter.
Does give birth to one or two fawns in the spring. The young deer have spotted coats (as do tule elk calves), providing them camouflage from predators as they lie still in a protected place while the doe is away feeding. They will remain secluded until they are strong enough to run and keep up with the doe as she moves about.
The deer are primarily browsers feeding on shoots, stems, leaves and young twigs of forbs (broad-leaved, non-woody plants), shrubs and trees. Eating vegetation that grows well above ground level gives the animals a greater field of vision thus making it easier to spot predators such as mountain lions.
When they rest in the middle of the day or at night, black-tailed deer will lay down in a wooded area, which is why so many can be found in the riparian areas of the refuge.
The animals are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and just before dark. Visitors to San Luis can easily spot them at those times of the day from either of the auto routes and sometime from walking trails, as well.
For a chance to learn more about the other hooved ungulate on the refuge show up on Saturday, Oct. 12, when the San Luis NWR will host Tule Elk Day 2024. The free event will begin at 8 a.m. and last until noon.
The Merced National Wildlife Refuge which is located at 7430 West Sandy Mush Road, the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge and the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge comprise the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Its headquarters and visitor center are located just north of Los Banos off Highway 165 at 7376 South Wolfsen Road. The refuges are open to visitors daily from one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset. The visitor center is open Monday through Friday except federal holidays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call the refuge visitor center at 209-826-3508, ext. 127 or check out the upcoming events on the website at fws.gov/refuge/san-luis.
