All information about the red deer

The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a mammal from the deer family. Red deer are not very scarce and can be found in almost all of Europe. The family is so large that there are a lot of different subspecies:

• C. e. elaphus (Swedish red deer): Ireland, Great Britain, central and northern Europe

• C. e. barbarus (Atlas deer): Atlas Mountains (Algeria, Tunisia)

• C. e. corsicanus(Corsican red deer): Corsica, Sardinia

• C. e. maral (Caucasus deer): Anatolia

• C. e. italics (Mesola red deer): Italy

• C. e. brauner (Crimean red deer): Crimea (Russia)

• C. e. montanus: Carpathian

External characteristics of the red deer

In the warm months of summer, a red deer has a reddish-brown coat. Its coat changes to a gray-brown color in the cold winter months. The red deer have a white belly and cream-colored tail. In early September, red deer begin to lose their summer coat. This gives way to a new winter coat. The summer coat then returns in May of the new year. The head of a red deer is equipped with a pointed dark snout, large dark eyes and beautiful antlers. The latter, however, applies only to males. Females do not have antlers.

Red deer are hefty animals! Males are typically larger than females with their head-rump lengths ranging from 1.65m to as much as 2.60m and a shoulder height of 1.14m to 1.40m. Males can weigh up to 255 pounds! Females are more modest at 150 kilograms.

The red deer antlers

The antlers of a male red deer are very distinctive and easy to recognize. Male red deer grow antlers that can reach 70-90 centimeters in size. These can weigh up to 10 pounds. The antlers also have several branches that end in points (scions). On average, an antler has between 8 to 13 scions. When the male completes his first year of life, the growth of his first antlers begins. These return every year and become larger and more extensive the older the red deer is. So you can tell from an antlered male whether it is young or old, but not exactly how old he is. In August, male red deer begin shedding their antlers. The skin of their antlers begins to itch so much that they rub it against tree trunks, causing the antlers to come off.

Want to know the difference between antlers and horns? Then check out this Ranger Request!

The habitat of red deer: from Mongolia to the Veluwe

Red deer can be found in both Europe and Asia. In Europe, the distribution of red deer is very wide. You can find them from Spain to Sweden or even England. As long as it is a nice wooded area with some open plains, red deer know how to adapt well. The animals adapt in such a way that they can live in drier deciduous forests and heathlands to moist environments like fens and marshes, as well as in highland and mountain areas up to above the tree line. Originally red deer also occurred in much of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, their habitat is now limited to the Veluwe, the Oostvaardersplassen and, more recently, the Weerterbos. Here they live in the "wild" but in controlled nature reserves.

Wherever the red deer are found, the availability of drinking water is of great importance. Without good water and enough food, the red deer obviously cannot reproduce.

The rutting season and belling of red deer

A female carries a calf in her belly for a period of 8.5 months. This first involves an acquaintance. This encounter between males and females (hinds) is called a rut.

The rut begins in September and runs until mid-October. The males are then busy looking for groups of females (harems) to reproduce with. They do this by bellowing loudly, also called belling. During this rutting season there is a lot of fighting between the different males. They are very territorial and fights erupt regularly. The winner of the fights gets the chance to cover the hinds. With its own strong body odors and a layer of mud on its fur, the male impresses the female. In turn, she also secretes a special scent when she wants to mate with the male. The male cannot resist this scent.

Difference between red deer and fallow deer

Both red deer and fallow deer occur in the Netherlands. You can see these passing by during a nice walk on, for example, the Veluwe. But how do you tell them apart?

Red deer look different from fallow deer. They are slightly larger than fallow deer and often have a uniformly colored coat. They are the largest mammals in the Netherlands.

Fallow deer can be recognized by their mottled coat with a black stripe down their back. The sound that male fallow deer make during the rut is also higher and more monotonous than that of a red deer.

The biggest difference, however, is in the antlers of both species of deer. Whereas a fallow deer has flat, hoe-like antlers, a red deer has sharp, spike-like antlers. Both antlers are incredibly impressive and beautiful to behold.

What does a red deer eat?

Red deer are herbivores, also called herbivores. They eat grass, heather, tree bark, tubers, roots, fruits, seeds, and more. They are resourceful eaters who can pick a bite from anywhere. They are more likely to find food like bark, seeds or buds in wooded areas than on open plains, where grass and heather are mainly on the menu.

Facts about red deer

• Did you know that red deer can smell tremendously well? They can even smell you from 300 meters away!

• Red deer live a little older on average than fallow deer; they can live up to 25. Most fallow deer do not live past 15, but can have outliers above 20.

• The size and weight of a red deer can vary greatly. This is because it depends very much on their habitat and food.

• Red deer may grow very large with heavy and long antlers, yet they have a very small footprint of between 6-8 cm wide and long.

Conservation

Fortunately, the status of the red deer is safe. But unfortunately, many of the species you see in our park are endangered and struggling in their native habitats. Did you know that worldwide more than 4,000 animal species threatened with extinction are endangered? Together we can help them, with big, or small steps. Want to know how? Then click here.

Can't wait to see the red deer in real life? Then order your tickets online immediately and visit the red deer in Safaripark Beekse Bergen.