Red Deer

## Description

The Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. It is closely related and slightly larger American elk or wapiti, native to North America and eastern parts of Asia, had been regarded as a subspecies of red deer, but recently it has been established as a distinct species. The ancestor of all Red deer, including wapiti, probably originated in central Asia and resembled Sika deer.

## Appearance

The Red deer is the fourth-largest extant deer species, behind the moose, elk, and sambar deer. It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages and having an even number of toes on each hoof, like camels, goats, and cattle. European Red deer have a relatively long tail compared to their Asian and North American relatives. The males of many subspecies also grow a short neck mane during the autumn. Only the males have antlers, which start growing in the spring and are shed each year, usually at the end of winter. Antlers typically measure 71 cm (28 in) in total length and weigh 1 kg (2.2 lb). While an antler is growing, it is covered with highly vascular skin called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone. European Red deer tend to be reddish-brown in their summer coats, and some individuals may have a few spots on the backs of their summer coats. During the autumn, all Red deer subspecies grow thicker coats of hair, which helps to insulate them during the winter. Autumn is also when some of the stags grow their neck manes. The autumn/winter coats of most subspecies are the most distinct. The Caspian red deer's winter coat is greyer and has a larger and more distinguished light rump-patch compared to the Western European red deer, which has more of a greyish-brown coat with a darker yellowish rump patch in the winter. By the time summer begins, the heavy winter coat has been shed; the animals are known to rub against trees and other objects to help remove hair from their bodies. Red deer have different colouration based on the seasons and types of habitats, with grey or lighter colouration prevalent in the winter and more reddish and darker coat colouration in the summer.

## Distribution

Red deer inhabit most of Europe, Asia Minor, the Caucasus Mountains region, Iran, areas of western Asia, as well as central Asia. There are also the only species of deer living in Africa, namely, the Atlas Mountains area in northwestern Africa between Morocco and Tunisia. They have also been introduced to Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, and Argentina, amongst others. Red deer like open woodlands and they avoid dense unbroken forests. They can be seen in coniferous swamps, aspen-hardwood forests, clear cuts, coniferous-hardwood forests, open mountainous areas, grasslands, meadows, valleys, and pastures.

## Behavior

These deer are social animals, living in summer herds with up to 400 individuals. The herds are matriarchal, being dominated by a single female. Seasonal migrations occur, with deer moving to higher elevations for the summer, and to lower elevations over winter. In spring, the sexes separate after the mating season, females leaving to give birth, bulls forming separate summer herds. Bulls during the mating season are territorial and otherwise are not aggressive towards other deer. Red deer browse early in the morning and late evening. During the day and late at night they are inactive, spending most of this time chewing their cud.

## Diet

Red deer are browsers, eating grasses, forbs, and sedges in summer, and, in winter, woody growth (cedar, wintergreen, sumac, eastern hemlock, jack pine, staghorn, red maple, and basswood). Deer particularly like dandelions, aster, hawkweed, clover, violets, and sometimes mushroom. Deer are ruminants, regurgitating their food and chewing it up again (i.e. chewing their cud) to aid digestion.

## Reproduction

Red deer are polygynous, one male mating with multiple females. In late September or early October, the males lose their antler velvet and start to compete for females. Dominant males can maintain larger harems and restrict access to their females. Harems are seasonal and usually consist of 1 bull with 6 females and their yearling calves. These deer reach sexual maturity at 16 months, although males usually wait until a few years have passed and they can compete with the more mature males. Gestation usually lasts 240 to 262 days, and a single offspring is born. Following birth, a cow and a calf live alone for a few weeks. After 16 days a calf can join the herd, with weaning completed within 60 days. The mothers nurse and protect their offspring for the first year of life. Males do not help with the care of their young.

## Population

### Threats

Predators include mountain lions, bears, and gray wolves. Calves may be eaten by bobcats and coyotes. Limited hunting for sport is generally permitted and in some countries, they are farmed for meat.

### Number

The worldwide population number of the Red deer is unknown, but particular populations in Europe have been estimated, with a total of approximately 1.7 million individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are increasing.

### Ecological niche

Red deer have an important impact on the plant communities where they live, due to their browsing. They serve as important prey during certain times of the year for some large predators, including brown bears.

## Fun Facts

All Red deer calves are born spotted, as is common with many deer species, and lose their spots by the end of summer.

Male Red deer have a distinctive roar during the rut, which they use to keep their harem of females together.

After the rut, female Red deer form large herds and when approached by predators, the largest and most robust females in the herd may make a stand, using their front legs to kick at their attackers.