UKeconet > Projects & Identification Guides > Deer > Roe Deer

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
<< Antlers
Fallow Deer >>
​Distribution & Habitat
  • 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
  • Breeding season for roe deer between July-August
  • Bucks compete aggressively with neighbouring makes to secure right to mate
  • Fights can sometimes lead to injury or even be fatal
  • Single male mates with several does
  • Does ready to reproduce when 2 years old
  • Gestation period 6-7 months, although will delay the growth of the offspring (diapause, or delay in development of offspring during harsher climate), with young born in warmer months of May-June leading to a 10-month gestation
  • Twins are most common with single birth less so. Triplets infrequent
  • Kids lie up in long grass or undergrowth for first week after birth
  • Suckle for 2-3 month; independent after 1 year
Unless otherwise stated, all Deer Identification Guide content © SYBRG, Sheffield 2016