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Roe Deer

Capreolus capreolus

Not yet photographed by the community

Small native deer with white rump; common in woodland.

Species Profile

Least Concern; population stable and expanding in the UK.

Lifespan: 10–12 years in the wild, up to 16 years in captivity
Size & Weight: 90–135 cm body length; 45–75 cm shoulder height; 15–30 kg
Habitat: Woodland edges, scrubland, young conifer plantations, and mixed deciduous forests with dense undergrowth for cover and open areas for feeding.
UK Distribution: Widespread and resident throughout England and Scotland, particularly abundant in the Midlands, East Anglia, and Scottish Borders. Absent from most of Wales and south-west England. Year-round resident with no migration.
Diet: Herbivorous; grazes on grasses, clover, and forbs in spring and summer, and browses on shoots, bark, lichens, and conifer needles in autumn and winter.
Predators: Foxes (primary predator of fawns), lynx (historically), wolves (historically), and domestic dogs; fawns also vulnerable to badgers and corvids.
Mating Season: July to August
Breeding: Does give birth to 1–3 fawns (typically 2) after a gestation of 290–295 days, with births occurring in May to June. Implantation is delayed; does are typically receptive for only 24–36 hours during oestrus.
Behaviour: Solitary or in small family groups; territorial, particularly males which establish and defend territories year-round. Crepuscular and nocturnal, most active at dawn and dusk. Males produce a loud barking call during the rut.

Did You Know?

•Roe deer bucks display characteristic black nose patches and lack the white rump patch of fallow and muntjac deer.
•During the mating season, males perform a distinctive 'rut' behaviour involving rapid circling of females and vocalising.
•Fawns are born with camouflaged spotted coats and remain hidden in vegetation for their first few weeks while the doe visits to nurse them.
•Roe deer have expanded their range significantly since the 1970s due to woodland expansion and reduced hunting pressure.
•Male roe deer grow and shed their short antlers annually, typically retaining them from April to August.

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