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European red deer are closely related to American elk, but are smaller in size. They are the largest deer at Fossil Rim.
They have been present since at least the end of the last Ice Age. Prehistoric remains of red deer show them to have been considerably larger than present day animals. Antlers with up to 22 points have been discovered preserved in peat bogs.
The rutting season takes place from the first of September to the middle of October, during which time there are fierce fights between the males. They will “bugle” during the rut; this mating call is also a warning for other males to stay away from his harem. This unique song can be heard over half a mile away. A challenge to a harem holding stag begins with him and the rival roaring repeatedly for 10-20 minutes. If the rival is out-roared by the stag, he will usually back down at this stage. If not, a fight between them ensues. The dominant stag then gathers a harem of females near water. While the stag eats nothing during the rutting season, he needs to drink constantly. After this mating season, he sheds his antlers and joins the male herd.
Females leave the herd to give birth. They hide the fawn and only come to it to nurse the fawn. As soon as it is strong enough to stand on its legs, it will join the herd with its mother. The fawns will stay with their mothers in the matriarchal herd. The male never play a part in the fawn’s education; the doe will do it alone. Fawns are usually weaned by 8 months. Fawns are a golden red brown with longitudinal lines of white spots, which disappear at 5 or 6 months.
Antlers are solid bone and are shed in April or May and regrown annually. They start to grow again almost immediately and within 3 months are fully grown becoming progressively more branched as the stag becomes older. A red deer is 6 years old before his antlers reach full size. The young grow simple antlers the first year. In each succeeding year, a new point is added and up to 11 can develop. Growing antlers every year is very demanding, in terms of the nutrition which is required to produce them, but it does mean that the stags have a full rack of healthy antlers at the beginning of the rut.
Red deer are excellent jumpers and are capable of jumping 6-10’ in height and up to 13’ in length. They are also good swimmers and can often be seen in the water tanks at Fossil Rim. Rolling in mud appears to be a favorite with them also. Often they become so caked it is hard to recognize them. Red deer grow a longer darker coat in winter and can look quite scraggly. |
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European
Red Deer
Cervus elephus |
STATUS:
Conservation dependent |
ORIGIN:
Europe |
HEIGHT:
4 1/2’ at shoulder |
WEIGHT:
300-800 pounds |
CHARACTERISTICS:
Large deer; males with antlers that can measure 3’ in length and weigh 20 pounds |
GESTATION/OFFSPRING/BIRTH DAYS:
9 months/ 1 fawn/ late May to July |
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR:
Very gregarious |
LIFESPAN:
15-20 years in the wild
26 yrs in captivity |
HABITAT:
Forest |
FOOD:
Buds, wheat, oats, carrots, beets, apples, grasses and dwarf shrubs |
PREDATORS:
Foxes, golden eagles, wolf, lynx, European brown bear & man |
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