Molly the Mule Deer

The Southwestern Research Station in the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal, Arizona has a tame Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) named Molly. She can be seen wandering around the grounds during the day.

Molly wears a bright orange dog collar to help make her easy to spot and warn off hunters. She can be recognized as a Mule Deer by her large, mule-like ears and black-tipped tail.

Molly was an orphan, and since she was raised by humans, she is very tame and friendly.

She loves both treats…

And having her head scratched.

I did see wild deer grazing in the grassy areas at the Southwestern Research Station, but they were all White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and thus not Molly's kin.