Red Deer - Cervus elaphus
Red Deer are the largest British land mammal, and are native to Britain having arrived after the last ice age. They are widely distributed and expanding in range and number.
Habitat
Generally found in mature woodland where it feeds along the woodland edge.
Description
Short rich reddish-brown coat in summer. Dark brownish-grey coat in winter. Adults rarely have spots, but the calf is born with spots, and loses these after its first moult (approximately 2 months after birth). Buff coloured rump patch. Short beige tail, long face that becomes greyish with age. Large mobile ears.
The male’s antlers are large and highly branched with up to 12 points and can reach a metre in length. Size of the antlers does not correspond with age of the stag; it is the number of points/branches, which has been recorded up to 16.
Biology
Active throughout the day, but mainly at dawn and dusk which is when they are likely to be seen eating shoots from shrubs, deciduous trees and conifer leaves. Woody browsers, e.g. tree shoots, are eaten when other food is limiting during winter. During the day the calf lies low in dense vegetation.
Red Deer are usually solitary, or occur as mother and calf groups. Males are solitary and mix with the females in the breeding season, which is called the rut. A single calf is born 8 months after the rut (May to June).
The rut occurs from late September to October. Stags return to the hind's home ranges and compete for access to hinds by engaging in elaborate displays of dominance including roaring, parallel walks and fighting. Serious injury and death can result between stags of similar size that can not assess dominance by any of the other means. The dominant stag then ensures exclusive mating with the hinds.
Stags are sexually mature before they reach two, but are usually defeated during the rut to larger males, so they don’t tend to breed until the age of five.
Conservation
Red Deer are protected in the UK by the Deer Act 1991. They are classified as a Species of Conservation Concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, but not a priority species.
