Description
The secretive Roe Deer is the mythical host of Europe’s deciduous forests. One of the smallest member of the Cervidae family, the Roe Deer often goes by unobserved to the visitors of its forests. Unlike other mammals such as foxes, the Roe Deer is herbivore and not attracted by human presence. In most cases, it will be found far from cities, often in agricultural areas.
The Roe Deer has a body length of roughly 100-130 cm and a shoulder height of 65 cm, except populations from the Urals which can reach 145 cm and 85 cm respectively. With a weight of 15-35 kg, the Roe deer is significantly smaller than its cousin the Red Deer, being impossible to confuse together. Bucks have antlers about 20-25 cm, with two or three points. They shed their antlers in October after the rutting season, and begin to regrow them in November. When the antlers are still small, they are covered in velvet, which they shed in the Spring.
The Roe Deer’s appearance changes depending on the season. In Winter, the Roe Deer’s fur becomes thicker and grey-brown. In Summer, the fur is thinner and brown-red, with clearer areas around the stomach.
Distribution
Roe Deer are found across Europe with the exception of Ireland, Iceland, some remote islands, and northern Scandinavia.
Habitat – Where you’ll Find It.
In many areas, Roe Deer are hunted and recovering from near extinction. Consequently, they often seek cover from dense forests, and seek areas where there is little human presence. Younger forests often provide more foliage cover, so areas that have recently been deforested, such as recent timberland, are often good places to try.
However, unlike the Red Deer which is the true king of the forest, Roe Deer is adapted to living in cleared spaces as well. Since cleared spaces provide food that is easily accessible (grass), thy are often found feeding there in the morning and the evening, and retreat to the forest at night and at mid-day. Therefore, they are often found at the edges of woods, bordering agricultural fields and prairies, as well as in clearings.
Roe Deer love young shoots to eat, since they are accessible, so you will be most likely to find them in the spring when plants begin to grow again, or in young forests. Maize / Corn fields are thought to be home to Roe Deer since they provide abundant food and cover.
I have always been very successful with areas that have ferns, as they provide a lot of food that is at ground level, as well as cover. However, during the period where deers give birth, don’t go walking around ferns as you may stumble onto a newly born fawn.
Finally, Roe Deer require abundant wanter since they have large metabolisms and often live in large herds. They will likely be found near water sources such as lakes and rivers, since small water pools do not contain enough water.
How to Find Roe Deer
Step 1: Using the habitat information above, try to find a spot that provides cover, food and water for deer. Try to think like a deer: where would you go?
Step 2: In order to find an ideal spot, bike, hike, run or drive around potential areas in the morning, evening or before thunder storms. You will be most likely to see them during these times. By staying on trails or roads and maintaining a constant speed, you will be less likely to disturb a heard or fawn, but will still be able to spot them as they come out into the open to eat.
Step 3: Once you have made a couple of sitings, you have learn more about their behavior. You can try to find their tracks, which can be found easily in muddy areas near rivers where deer would come to drink (how about picture of a deer drinking over water!). Scats are also a good sign. If you find an area with a lot of scats all together, this could mean that a male was mating with a heard there.
Step 4: Now you’re ready to photograph Roe Deer. Since they are fragile animals, I recommend to wait for them to come out towards you, so position yourself somewhere you think they will come and wait. You don’t have to hide since they have a poor eyesight, but take into account the wind because their sense of smell is acute.
When to leave Roe Deer alone – Final Word
Roe Deer are fragile animals that need to be respected and protected. Fawns are even more fragile, and if disturbed can be abandoned by their mother. Fawns are born between mid-May to early June, and should not be disturbed during this period. You can still photograph them, but it is best to stay on trails.