Species · GBIF taxon 2440958
Red Deer
Cervus elaphusAlso known as European Red Deer, Common Red Deer
Red deer are majestic forest dwellers famous for the dramatic autumn rut, when mature stags clash antlers and emit deep, resonant roars that echo for miles to claim dominance over harems of hinds. These highly social cervids form single-sex herds for most of the year, only coming together during the breeding season in woodlands and open valleys. As keystone herbivores, they shape their woodland habitats by browsing young shoots and dispersing seeds across vast home ranges.
MammalHerbivoreForest-Dwelling
Licensed referenceLviatour / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
- diet
- Herbivorous browser and grazer
- family
- Cervidae
- threats
- Habitat fragmentation, hybridization with introduced sika deer, and overhunting in some regional pockets
- life Span
- 10 to 15 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity
LC
Stags can be highly aggressive during the autumn rut; maintain a safe distance of at least 50 meters.
Mature stags possess formidable antlers and can charge at high speeds when defending their harem during the autumn rut.
Never step between a stag and his harem, and back away immediately if a deer stares directly at you with flattened ears.- Listen for Roaring: Use the deep roars of stags during the autumn rut to locate herds from a safe distance.
- Watch for Sign: Look for rubbed bark on young trees, which stags use to scrape velvet off their antlers.
- Give Wide Berth: Keep at least 50 meters away, especially when stags are rutting or hinds have newborn calves.