Red Deer
The Red Deer is the largest native land animal to occur in the UK. Stags (males) are larger in size than hinds (females) and have magnificent branched antlers. The coat is reddish-brown in colour in summer but becomes brown or grey in winter and there is a cream coloured rump patch.
Red Deer are patchily distributed in the UK and occupy a range of habitats including grassland, woodland and upland moors. They are widespread and locally common in northern Scotland. Populations in Scotland and northern England represent native stock whereas in south-west Scotland and most of England they are likely to be escapees from deer parks. In many areas, populations of this species are thought to be on the increase.
Stags and hinds prefer to stay in separate groups for most of the year. Stags live in unrelated “bachelor herds” and hinds live in groups consisting of a dominant female and her daughters.
Red Deer are active throughout the day but they tend to be more easily seen in the evening and at night due to human disturbance during the day. Their diet consists of shrub and tree browse, grasses, sedges and rushes and heather.
Mating occurs between late September and November and during this time, known as “the rut”, mature stags invest much time and effort into competing with other males for access to females at traditional rutting areas. After the rutting period, stags and hinds go their separate ways. Births, usually of a single calf, occur from late May and peak towards the beginning of June. Male calves disperse when they reach one or two years of age but female calves usually stay with their mother.
The Red Deer is culled to restrict the damage it causes to forestry, agriculture and the natural environment and trophy hunting and hunting for meat (venison) are also common.
Date: 18th October 2019
Location: Richmond Park, Greater London
Red Deer are patchily distributed in the UK and occupy a range of habitats including grassland, woodland and upland moors. They are widespread and locally common in northern Scotland. Populations in Scotland and northern England represent native stock whereas in south-west Scotland and most of England they are likely to be escapees from deer parks. In many areas, populations of this species are thought to be on the increase.
Stags and hinds prefer to stay in separate groups for most of the year. Stags live in unrelated “bachelor herds” and hinds live in groups consisting of a dominant female and her daughters.
Red Deer are active throughout the day but they tend to be more easily seen in the evening and at night due to human disturbance during the day. Their diet consists of shrub and tree browse, grasses, sedges and rushes and heather.
Mating occurs between late September and November and during this time, known as “the rut”, mature stags invest much time and effort into competing with other males for access to females at traditional rutting areas. After the rutting period, stags and hinds go their separate ways. Births, usually of a single calf, occur from late May and peak towards the beginning of June. Male calves disperse when they reach one or two years of age but female calves usually stay with their mother.
The Red Deer is culled to restrict the damage it causes to forestry, agriculture and the natural environment and trophy hunting and hunting for meat (venison) are also common.
Date: 18th October 2019
Location: Richmond Park, Greater London
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