Irish name: Fia rua
Scientific name: Cervus elaphus
The red deer is the largest of Ireland's wild deer. Red deer populations are now found in counties Tyrone, Down, Fermanagh, Donegal, Wicklow, Kerry and Meath. The Wicklow population have interbred with introduced sika deer to produce hybrids.
In winter, the red deer's coat is grey to brown. In summer, red deer look more reddish-brown in colour. They have a line along their backs, with small white spots on either side. The fur on the underside is grey. The red deer has a short tail that hangs halfway down the pale rump patch. Calves are reddish brown and have much more obvious white spots.
The stags grow antlers, which become larger and develop more tines each year. Antlers are shed every spring.
Red deer in Ireland are usually found in secluded woodlands or upland moors and mountainous areas. They are active both during the day and at night, but feed mainly in the early hours of the morning and late in the evening. Males and females usually live in separate herds.
Red deer are opportunistic, eating a variety of foods, depending on what is available. They eat leaves, grasses, herbs, woody shoots, fruits, acorns, and sometimes strip bark from trees. It is important not to disturb deer herds, especially in spring, when food is scarce, as disturbance can cause the animals to lose weight and condition.
Breeding occurs between late September and November, a time called the ?rut?. A single calf is born between May and June. Stags usually live to about 12 years of age, while hinds may survive for 20 years.
Red Deer Cervus elaphus (Photo: Mike Brown)