Peatland wildlife
Red deer
(Cervus elaphus) |
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Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Description
The red deer is the largest land animal in the Ireland and
the United Kingdom. The native red deer was once widespread
in Ireland with upland blanket bog providing an important part
of their territory. Killarney National Park, County Kerry is
the last remaining haven for red deer from native stock –
all red deer in Northern Ireland are descended from reintroduced
stock.
Behaviour
Despite their size, herds of red deer can be remarkably well
camouflaged in woodland settings and often the most spectacular
ways to see them is on upland bogs. Their preferred food is
young shoots and leaves of grass and Heather, supplemented by
rushes and tree bark, although these are less nutritious and
cause greater tooth wear.
Breeding
For most of the year adults live in single sex herds. Male
deer, known as stags, come together during the rut in late September.
The stags attempt to gather as many females, or hinds, as possible
by bellowing loudly and adorning themselves with the scent of
mud and urine. The antlers of the male are mainly for show and
male deer only use them when disputes arise over social status.
After a gestation of around 250 days the female will find
a secluded spot to give birth, usually to a single calf. The
calf is left alone for long periods between feeds and stands
motionless if threatened, relying on its dappled coat for camouflage.
It joins the rest of the herd after about a week.
Red deer can breed with sika deer, a non-native species which
originated in Japan.
Status and Protection
Local
Wild red deer are found in counties Tyrone and Fermanagh and
Down. Several enclosed herds also live on private and Forest
Service estates. In Northern Ireland deer are protected during
the closed season, and under Schedule
6 of The Wildlife Order may not be killed by means other
than shooting or hunting with hounds during the open season.
Only certain types of guns and ammunition may be used. The open
season for red deer is as follows:
Stags - 1 August to 30 April inclusive
Hinds - 1 November to the last day
of February inclusive
European
Red deer are listed in Appendix
III of the Bern Convention.
