Identification Guide - DEER
Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)
Guide prepared by Professor Ian D Rotherham & Chris Percy
Photo contributions from: Paul Ardron, Paul Biggs, Paul Hobson, Karon Mayor, Ian Rotherham, Peter Wolstenholme
Supported by a BES Outreach Grant 2016
Photo contributions from: Paul Ardron, Paul Biggs, Paul Hobson, Karon Mayor, Ian Rotherham, Peter Wolstenholme
Supported by a BES Outreach Grant 2016
Distribution & Habitat
Features
- Native to Britain
- Extinct in England by 1800s due to deforestation and hunting; small population survived in Scotland.
- Tree-planting schemes and general expansion of woodland in 20th C saw population rise and spread. With the exception of the Midlands and Wales which have small populations; roe deer are now widespread across most of the country.
- Tend to occupy woodland edges; can also be seen in fields and grassland and areas with hedgerows and copses
- Also starting to take advantage of sub-urban habitats in some areas
Features
- Red-brown in summer, grey-brown in winter
- Almost tailless; doe has a small tuft of hair on rump (‘tush’) in winter. Target in both sexes white; inverted heart-shaped on does and kidney-shaped on bucks
- Stags have small antlers (about 30 cm), eventually having three tines per antler when adult
- Distinctive black nose and ‘moustache’; white chin
Behaviour & Activity
- Roe browse on a range of foodstuffs; brambles, heather, bilberry and tree shoots – both coniferous and deciduous
- Bucks tend to be solitary, territorial (territories of bucks and does can overlap), animals but can form small winter groups
- Doe ranges frequently overlap; often seen with kids
- Active throughout 24-hour period
- Most active at dawn and dusk
- Make most use of open space during hours of darkness
- Tend to lie up whilst ruminating
Breeding
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Unless otherwise stated, all Deer Identification Guide content © SYBRG, Sheffield 2016