deer

A majestic symbol of woodland and open countryside, the red deer is both ecologically and culturally significant. This fact sheet provides a detailed overview of the biology and lifestyle of the red deer and highlights the importance of its protection and conservation in natural habitats.

The deer measures 1.6 to 2.5 m in body length and weighs 100 to 250 kg. As an herbivore, the deer eats grasses, herbs, leaves, buds, and shoots. Its life expectancy is up to 20 years.

Deer for Garden, Educational Trail & Classroom

Profile: deer

  • Scientific classification

    • Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
    • Order: Even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla)
    • Family: Deer (Cervidae)
    • Genus: Cervus
    • Species: C. elaphus (red deer)

  • Physical characteristics

    • Size: Body length from 1.6 to 2.5 m
    • Shoulder height: 1.1 to 1.5 m
    • Weight: 100 to 250 kg
    • Special features: Large, branched antlers in male deer (shed annually in winter), reddish fur in summer, grey-brown fur in winter, white spots on the hindquarters.

  • Habitat and distribution

    • Common regions: Europe, North America, Asia
    • Habitat: Diverse, from forests to open fields to mountainous regions; prefers deciduous and mixed forests.

  • Nutrition

    • Diet: Herbivore
    • Typical food: grasses, herbs, leaves, buds, shoots, bark and in autumn acorns and other fruits.

  • Reproduction and lifestyle

    • Mating season: rut in autumn (roaring of the stags)
    • Gestation period: Approx. 8 months
    • Young: One calf per gestation period, rarely twins
    • Lifestyle: Herd life with hinds and calves, territorial, migrations depending on the season.

  • Lifespan and protection status

    • Life expectancy: Up to 20 years in the wild
    • Endangered status: Varies by subspecies and region; threatened in some areas by habitat loss and hunting.
    • Conservation measures: preservation and protection of natural habitats, sustainable forestry, regulation of hunting.

  • Tracks and Footprints

    • The red deer (Cervus elaphus) leaves large, strong hoof prints that are significantly wider and rounder than those of the roe deer.
    To the tracking stamp 

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