James Hamilton, M. D.
Mark,
Ordinarily, that would be the better way to conduct this "pseudo-scientific" experiment. However, there are a few things that need to be considered - not the least of which is that I do not use Bluetooth nor do I possess such a loudspeaker.
Since these deer are usually very skittish and will not allow me within about 15 feet of them, I feel that if they do approach me with my cellphone tunes it will be because of their curiosity about the music.
Also one must consider the anatomy of a mule deer. They got that name due to the size of their ears - the largest of any deer species. Those ears are additionally amazing in the fact that each is individually equipped to move and rotate (independently of the contralateral one) to accurately locate even the softest of sounds including my cellphone. Their laterally placed eyes are capable of over 270 degrees of vision and those eyes can detect predators in the dark up to about 600 yards away. These visual and auditory adaptations help protect them from the many predators that seek to eat them such as coyotes, foxes, bears and mountain lions all of which have crossed through our yard. Their early warning defense systems would rival those of NORAD - the North American Air Defense Command in the south part of our city! (Milke - how's that for a metaphor!?).
So for now I will just see if the added music will have them approach me closer and will consider it is the harmony and not me that has captured their interest.
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Jim
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