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Fallow Deer

Dama dama

Not yet photographed by the community

Spotted deer introduced by Normans; flat antler palms in bucks.

Species Profile

Not listed as threatened; Least Concern. Populations are locally overabundant and require management in many UK woodlands.

Lifespan: 12–16 years in the wild; up to 20 years in captivity
Size & Weight: shoulder height 80–100 cm; body length 140–180 cm; weight 40–100 kg (males larger than females)
Habitat: Woodland with open glades, parkland, and grassland areas; prefers mixed deciduous and coniferous forests with good cover and grazing areas nearby.
UK Distribution: Widespread throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland, with highest densities in the Midlands and southern regions. Introduced species now well-established; resident year-round with some local movements.
Diet: Primarily grazes on grasses and clover; also browses on shrubs, bark, and leaves; feeds on heather, bracken, and agricultural crops seasonally.
Predators: Wolves historically; currently foxes (mainly on fawns), lynx (in historical times), and occasionally domestic dogs; humans through hunting.
Mating Season: September to October (rut)
Breeding: Single fawn (rarely twins) born May to June after a gestation of around 230 days; fawns weaned at 4–5 months; sexually mature at 2–3 years.
Behaviour: Highly gregarious, forming herds that are often sexually segregated outside the rut. Males are territorial during the breeding season and engage in ritualized combat with their palmate antlers. They are primarily crepuscular and nocturnal, feeding in dawn and dusk hours.

Did You Know?

•Fallow deer are non-native to the UK, introduced by the Normans around 1066 for hunting in deer parks, and now form one of the most successful introduced mammal populations in Britain.
•Males (bucks) possess distinctive broad, palmate antlers (shaped like a hand) that are shed and regrown annually; antler quality indicates social status.
•Fallow deer have highly variable coat coloration, ranging from dark brown to pale cream and spotty patterns, with the characteristic white rump and tail used in signalling.
•The species is named after the 'fallow' (pale brown or yellowish) colour of their summer coat and was historically associated with medieval deer parks as symbols of status and wealth.
•In the UK, fallow deer populations can cause significant ecological damage through overgrazing and bark-stripping, leading to woodland management and culling programmes in many areas.

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