Once in a Lifetime Footage Caught of Mule Deer!

[bac3996]

Once in a Lifetime Footage Caught of Mule Deer!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHdjJ_FF9dg&feature=youtu.be

 

[TraderDan]

That was awsome, I never did quite understand that.

 

[Champ62]

Cool video!

 

[TennJeep1618]

That was awsome, I never did quite understand that.

The short answer is that they shed their antlers because the deer's testosterone level drops and the bone erodes at the base. A common misconception occurs when people call antlers "horns." Cows, goats, sheep, etc have horns, which are not shed regularly.

 

[Aaronious45]

Why don't other bones erode?

 

[TennJeep1618]

Why don't other bones erode?

I honestly can't give you a good answer to that. I will venture a guess, though. During the spring and summer, bucks don't move around a lot because their growing antlers are easily damaged. Once they harden and the rut begins, they are used for fighting and protection. Their necks also swell to help protect them from injury while sparring and fighting. Once the rut is over and their testosterone level drops, they don't need the antlers for the reasons above anymore, so they shed them.

 

[Stagman]

Why don't other bones erode?

Low testosterone will make his boner erode also ound:

 

[FrankT]

They stop being horny!

 

[Overtime]

Horns are hollow, antlers are solid bone.