Red Deer

About

The red deer is the largest land animal in Scotland standing at 1.37m shoulder height. They are most widespread on Scottish moorland but are also found in woodland and farmland fringes. During the autumnal breeding season, known as the ‘rut’, males bellow to proclaim their territory and will fight over the females, sometimes injuring each other with their sharp antlers. As a result of mating season, a single calf is usually born in the following spring.

How to identify

The largest deer in the UK, red deer have dark russet-brown fur, with a paler buff rump patch and a pale tail. Look out for herds of large, sturdy deer with antlers. Males have large, branching antlers, increasing in size as they get older.

In the lowlands, the smaller roe deer is more commonly seen. This species grows up to 0.75m at the shoulder and males have small antlers with three points. They range from rusty red in the summer to slate grey in the winter with a prominent white rump. 

Did you know ?

A male red deer is called a ‘stag’, a female is called a ‘hind’. Male antlers can measure up to one metre in breadth and weigh as much as 15kg. Within weeks of shedding old antlers, new ones start to grow. These new antlers are covered in a soft skin called velvet. This skin is filled with small blood vessels to give the antlers nourishment while they grow. Antler-growing is an energy-intensive activity and stags often lose weight during this process.

How you can help? 

Did you know you can help wildlife in your local river ? You can do this in many ways from reporting pollution to SEPA, by not flushing wet wipes down the toilet and even at one of our many conservation volunteer days. Check out our Get Involved page for more information on how you can get involved with your local river.