ROE DEER.
(Capreolus)
Chris Smith - Photographer
The roe deer is widespread throughout Europe, from Scotland and central Sweden to the Mediterranean and to Asia. In Great Britain a sub species Capreolus thotti is fairly endemic, and these differ from others by their face being darker than their body.
The sexes differ, the male roe deer can range between 2ft-2ft 5 inches in height, weighing between 35-65lbs, and the female is smaller, and only the bucks (males) have antlers. The coat ranges from foxy red and short haired in the summer, to grey and long, brittle haired in the harsher winter months. Roe deer have no scent glands on their face, only on their hind pasterns.
Young usually consists of one of each gender, born around late May or early June, gestation is around 10 months. Young can follow their mother within a fortnight. Young males grow a single pronged antler in their second year, an added tine in their third year and a full set in their 4th year. Best heads of antlers are grown between 5-9. Three fawns at birth are possible, but unusual.
During May does drive away their fawns in preparation of their new young, which are usually dropped in deep thicket. The does return to the bucks after 2 weeks. Old bucks drop their horns during November, but irregular shedding’s having been recorded between September and January. The rutting season is June and July. After the rut some bucks retire to loneliness during August and September, in October there is a second (infertile) pairing season. After this roe stay together in family parties until the following May.
Roe deer are mainly nocturnal, seeking cover during the day. When scared they will gallop and make several high leaps, often looking back.
Roe deer have been kept in captivity, but they can be dangerous when grown up, and during the rut. Cases of human deaths attributable to roe deer are on record.
Food consists of shrubs, leaves, corn, turnips, clover, hips and haws, moss, berries, bracken and fungi. Apples in orchards are also consumed. Both sexes have a sharp, dog-like bark, in the rut and when frightened.
A small group of reds crossing a stretch of water in Aberdeenshire
A large herd of male red deer in a valley in the Scottish highlands, these were the deerhounds traditional quarry, and what they were bred for.
