Red Deer Alpha Buck enjoying the morning sunshine, Studley Royal, Fountains Abbey Estate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, England.
The red deer, Cervus elaphus, is one of the largest deer species. The majestic monarch and our largest land mammal, red deer, are the royalty of UK woodland. Come autumn, the woods and hills echo with clashing antlers and the roars of rutting stags.
Red deer have red-brown fur with a cream rump. The UK’s largest land mammal, a mature male or stag, may stand four feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 200kg. Stags develop a large set of antlers that grow with age. Starting with just two points, the antlers steadily develop more branches, reaching up to 16 in most cases. These antlers are shed and regrown every year. Females or hinds, lack antlers and are more lightly built than males.
Not to be confused with Sika deer. Introduced from Asia, Sika deer can look similar to red deer, but are significantly smaller. They have much darker brown fur in winter and develop white spots in summer.
Grasses are the primary food of Red deer, but they will eat a range of plants, including tree shoots, sedges and rushes, herbs and shrubs.
Red Deer Alpha Buck enjoying the morning sunshine, Studley Royal, Fountains Abbey Estate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, England.
The red deer, Cervus elaphus, is one of the largest deer species. The majestic monarch and our largest land mammal, red deer, are the royalty of UK woodland. Come autumn, the woods and hills echo with clashing antlers and the roars of rutting stags.
Red deer have red-brown fur with a cream rump. The UK’s largest land mammal, a mature male or stag, may stand four feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 200kg. Stags develop a large set of antlers that grow with age. Starting with just two points, the antlers steadily develop more branches, reaching up to 16 in most cases. These antlers are shed and regrown every year. Females or hinds, lack antlers and are more lightly built than males.
Not to be confused with Sika deer. Introduced from Asia, Sika deer can look similar to red deer, but are significantly smaller. They have much darker brown fur in winter and develop white spots in summer.
Grasses are the primary food of Red deer, but they will eat a range of plants, including tree shoots, sedges and rushes, herbs and shrubs.