| The
lives of red deer
are dictated by the seasons. Throughout winter and spring, males live
in
loosely structured bachelor groups, away from females, who generally
associate
with their maternal female relatives. This separation of the sexes ends
as the
autumn rut (or breeding season) approaches and stags move into the
areas of
good grazing where females are usually found. During the rut, which
runs from
mid-September to mid-November, males compete with each other through
roaring
contests and fights to control harems of females, and mate with females
as they
come into oestrus. Only the strongest males, equipped with the best
antlers and
fighting skills, succeed. In doing so these top stags expend an
enormous amount
of energy: they eat rarely if at all, roaring day and night whilst
having to
fight or chase off challengers. After the rut the stags move off again,
reforming their bachelor herds. The winter months that follow are tough times for red deer. Males must recover body condition lost during the rut and females that have conceived must support both themselves and their growing foetus through the winter. Most natural deaths occur in late winter (March or April). The youngest and oldest deer are the most likely to succumb to the harsh weather and lack of food. As spring approaches, weather conditions improve and the grass begins to grow again. There is a final spurt of foetal growth before hinds give birth to a single calf, in late May and June. For the first few weeks of life, the spotted newborn calve remains hidden when not being suckled by its mother. After this, it will follow its mother closely and continue to take milk until the beginning of the rut. If the mother fails to conceive during the autumn rut, the mother may continue to suckle the calf well into the following year. During spring and summer, males re-grow their antlers (having cast the previous year’s antlers in spring) and re-building their strength in preparation for the cycle beginning again in the rut. |
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