ROE DEER are one of the species that are likely to be involved in road traffic accidents (RTA’s) and are found wild all over our area.
Unlike the male (“Buck”) the females (“Doe”) do not have antlers. The males grow their antlers during the winter and they are replaced annually. The older males lose their antlers around Christmas. The regrown antlers are cleaned of the protective covering called "velvet" which is rubbed off on trees by April. The younger the Buck, the later they lose their antlers and their velvet. Neither the female nor the male have external tails but have a white tail patch called a "target", which is kidney shaped on the male and heart shaped on the female. The winter coat falls out in the spring giving the youngest animals a foxy red appearance.
The older males take up their territories which they then defend and have chased out the young Bucks by April who must find a new home. The females are impregnated during the "Rut" (July/August) but because of "delayed implantation" give birth the following May/June. By February the Doe has a well formed foetus and will get much heavier until giving birth. At birth Fawns have a spotted coat which lasts about three weeks. If found Fawns should never be handled. In areas where the feeding is good and predation is low they will produce twin Fawns and it is not unknown to have triplets (but this is unusual).
Both the Doe and her Fawns are subject to attacks by dogs and you can help by keeping your dog under close control. Even the friendliest household pet can kill young Fawns and chase and catch heavily pregnant Does. "Remember that Deer and Dogs don't mix". During the Foot and Mouth outbreak deer where not disturbed by the public and their dogs and RTA’s in our area dropped to next to nothing. Poaching and the "illegal sale of Venison" is a problem all over our area. The police would welcome any information that would help them catch the criminals involved in the illegal destruction of these wonderful Wild Animals. The territorial activity in April and the rut normally in July/August coincide with our Easter and Summer Holidays and unfortunately the extra traffic on our roads means that Roe Deer often get involved in RTA's. You can help by reporting any RTA's to the Police as quickly as possible.