Deer Prints - Summer Splendour

Roe deer are very pretty, shy, woodland animals, native to Europe. They stand 65-73 cms high to shoulder, and the males (Roebucks) are distinguishable by their short forked antlers which typically carry six points.

In summer Roe deer coats are chestnut coloured, and the vestigial tail is usually invisible. In winter the Roe deer coat is thicker and dark brown to grey in colour; the rump is now white, which appears like a powder puff when the animal is alarmed. The males (Roebuck) shed their antlers during October to December after the rut; and new antlers grow again during March and April covered in velvet.

Roe deer tend to stay in family groups, with the bucks maintaining their territories from spring to late summer. They mark their territory by depositing scent produced by rubbing their antlers against small trees and stripping the bark (fraying), whilst making a scrape below the tree with the forefoot. This process also helps to remove the velvet and to expose the new antlers.

Roe deer tend to eat at dawn and dusk, when they are less likely to be disturbed. They browse mainly on highly nutritious buds, leaves and young shoots, suppressing growth and causing much damage to crops and saplings. They are however, very partial to brambles and ivy, and have been known to eat hedge fruit, fungi and cereal grains. However, they prefer to eat at intervals throughout the day and night, when there is sufficient moonlight. They very rarely sleep and are capable of long periods of inactions without losing much weight.

The breeding calendar of roe is completely different from other deer species, as they take nearly ten months between the rut (breeding season) and fawning, when between one and three offspring (fawns) are born in May. This may be the reason why they have been regarded as sacred in many countries and have played an important part in folklore.