European Roe Deer
| Latin Name | Capreolus capreolus |
|---|---|
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Cetartiodactyla |
| Family | Cervidae |
| IUCN status | Least concern |
| Habitat | Grasslands and mixed woodland |
| Distribution | Throughout Europe including the UK |
General Information
The Roe deer is one of two deer species native to the UK, the other is the Red Deer - all other deer species have been introduced.
Feeding in the twilight hours on grass, shoots, leaves and berries, roe deer are unlikely to stray into a field that has livestock as it considers the grass is unclean for it’s consumption.
Roe deer can have up to 3 kids in May or June after a 9 months pregnancy which includes 4 months of no foetal growth followed by 5 months foetal growth i.e. delayed implantation.
Fun Fact
Roe deer almost always give birth to twins, this is unusual for a deer species, and therefore their babies are called ‘kids’ not fawns or calves.
Keeper Notes
In the Deer Encounter, we have one wild rescue roe deer doe; Barley, who arrived in 2017. They had been taken into local veterinary practices by members of the public as very young ‘kids’ and brought to us for care and a permanent, safe home.