Black Bears
Buffalo - Bison
European Fallow Deer
Red Deer
Wapiti - Elk
 


Red Deer

Appearance


The Red deer earned its name because of its beautiful, reddish-brown coat. The deer's underparts are lighter and there is a white patch under the tail. During breeding season, the males have a mane. The winter coat is long, brittle and less red, and more of a grayish-brown colouration.

As the deer's main defense against its enemies is to flee, the animal is perfectly built for such behaviour. The Red deer has long legs, excellent vision and a keen sense of smell to assist the animal in detecting and escaping danger.

As there are 12 subspecies of Red deer scattered over a wide, diverse, geographical area, the size and weight varies greatly from subspecies to subspecies. The larger of the subspecies can weigh up to 300 kg (660 lbs) and the smallest 75 kg (165 lbs). The male (stag) can be up to 2.4 metres (8 feet) long in head and body and 1.3 metres (4.5 feet) at the shoulder. The female (hind) is slightly smaller than the male.

The male with a full set of antlers makes the Red deer a most impressive sight. The antlers are usually branched in a complex manner with six to ten points on each branch. On the larger males the antlers can weigh up to 9 kg (20 lbs) and measure a metre or more in length. The antlers are supported by a long, strong neck.



Habitat


The deer is native to Europe and has relatives in Scandinavia, North Africa and central Asia. This species of deer has also been successfully introduced to parts of South America, Australia and New Zealand.

Red deer can be found living in a wide variety of habitats from dense forests to moors, from flood plains and lowlands to plateaus and the Alps.

Once established in an area, the Red deer multiply quickly, which often results in a shortage of food for themselves, and for the native species of herbivores.


Diet


Red deer spend most of their time feeding. The rest of their time is spent ruminating, resting and sleeping.

Red deer feed primarily on herbs, grasses and small plants. In the winter months, when this type of food is scarce, the deer will eat conifer needles, lichens, softwood bark and grass that they scrape from under the snow. The Red deer also greatly restrict their movement during the winter to conserve energy.


Reproduction and Offspring


The rutting time of the Red deer occurs in September and October. European Red deer announce their rutting with regular roaring. The male deer herd the hinds together into harems ranging in numbers from one to a dozen. Violent fights sometimes occur between rival stags for females.

The gestation period lasts from seven to nine months with the calves being born at the end of May through to mid-June. The average weight of the calf is 5-8 kg (11-18 lbs). The calf is able to stand almost immediately after being born.

The calf is born with a spotted white coat with the spots fading by the time the calf is two months old. The spotted coat acts as camouflage for the young calf who hides in the vegetation, away from predators, coming out only to nurse. Calves will nurse for 8-10 months.

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