Red Deer Stags bathing in peat wallow to cool off. XMM-678
Most of the Red Deer in Britain are found in Scotland, but there are significant wild populations in south-west and north-west England, East Anglia and the north Midlands. Red deer can interbreed with the introduced Japanese sika deer and in some areas, hybrids are common. Red Deer, Roe Deer and Melanistic Fallow Deer can be found on the reserves. Adult Red Deer usually stay in single-sex groups for most of the year, coming together for mating during the October 'rut'. During the rut, mature stags vie for the attentions of the hinds and will then try to defend hinds that they attract. Competing stags will challenge opponents by bellowing and walking in parallel. If neither stag backs down a clash of antlers can occur, and stags sometimes sustain serious injury. Once the rut is over, the stags and hinds will separate. The calves are born the following June and are usually weaned by eight months, although they may stay with their mother after this time. The newborn calves are left by their mothers for long periods in patches of bracken or nettles; their mothers returning at intervals to feed them. LEGISLATION The laws pertaining to deer in England and Wales are the Deer Acts 1963 and 1980, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996. Legislation in Scotland is the Deer (Scotland) Act 1959, the Deer (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 1982 and certain orders made under this Act. The combined effect of these laws prohibits the 'poaching', the use of snares and shooting of deer at night. They also dictate the seasons during which deer can be killed and the type of weapons that can be used. Man is the only means of control and predation on this animal
Size: 5046px × 3677px
Location: Inverness-shire, Scottish Highlands. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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