In eastern Oregon, state biologists are researching mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) nutrition and predation. They hope the long-term study will help explain why populations are falling and what that might mean for management.

Biologists with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are studying the health of does and newborn fawns, checking to see how nutritious their forage is and if the fawns are being preyed upon.

“Mule deer populations have been declining throughout the West,” said Jake Dittel, assistant project lead on the study. “We’re interested in trying to find out another possible avenue of why that decline may be happening in fawn survival.”

Watch the video below.