RED DEER Cervus elaphus

Since the advent of forest clearance and sheep farming, these woodland creatures have adapted to life on high open moorland. The red deer is the largest species of deer in Britain. In summer, its coat is a deep reddish brown colour, giving the deer its name. In winter, the coat becomes longer, thicker and darker.

The stags have thicker more muscular necks than the hinds and in September to November, they have a dense mane of neck hair. This, coupled with their large branched antlers, make them an impressive sight.

In March and April, the stags cast their antlers and start to grow new ones, which are usually larger than those of the previous year. At first the new antlers are covered in soft thin skin called velvet. In July, this velvet dies and the stag rubs it off and eats it. Antlers take about 100 days to grow. In the Scottish Highlands, stags chew on the old antlers when they break off. These bony antlers are rich in calcium, which is deficient in many soils of the Highlands. The stags use this calcium source to provide the necessary vitamins for the following years antlers.

In late May and June, the calves and born. They are reared by their mothers in the hind herd which is led by a herd matriarch. The mating season, or the rut, takes place between late September and November. The stags put on weight before the rut in order to sustain the aggressive energy they need to fight other stags for control of the hinds and for supremacy. The fighting is not all physical contact – a lot of it consists of bellowing to warn off their rivals and strutting about in an intimidating manner.Red deer can be found throughout Scotland with very large numbers in the Highlands.

Our red deer at the Highland Wildlife Park show all the dynamics of a wild herd and every season of the year brings different behaviours to the fore.For more information on red deer, look up the British Deer Society website at www.bds.org.uk.