Red Deer

The red deer is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Anatolia, Iran, and parts of western Asia. Red deer are a distinctive rusty red colour in summer turning to a brown winter coat. Adults are not spotted. They have a short tail and a pale rump patch with no particular distinguishing features. They also have a large head with wide-spaced brown eyes. Red deer are browsers, eating grasses, forbs, and sedges in summer, and, in winter, woody growth (cedar, wintergreen, sumac, eastern hemlock, jack pine, staghorn, red maple, and basswood).

Mass: 440 lbs (Adult)

Gestation period: 236 days

Conservation status: Least Concern (Population increasing)

Scientific name: Cervus elaphus

Length: 7 ft. (Adult)

Trophic level: Herbivorous