Dear deer
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
There are two native species of deer in the UK, the Red and the Roe, though Fallow deer are now so well-established as to be considered native. The Normans introduced them to England around the 11th century.
Other non-native deer, like Muntjac deer from China and Chinese Water deer, and Sika deer from Japan, are seen in increasing numbers. All the male deer grow antlers, apart from the Chinese Water deer, which instead have large canine teeth, called tusks. Sometimes, these deer are called ‘vampire deer.’
Red deer are the largest species. The iconic baying stag is strongly associated with Scotland, though it is also found in numbers in other parts of England and Wales.
A stag starts growing his antlers in the spring. They grow rapidly, at the rate of 2½ cm (1”) a day and are fully developed by September, in time for the mating season, or rut. They are covered in velvet, which supplies the growing bone with oxygen and nutrients, until just before the rut. Then the velvet is rubbed off, against tree bark in the summer, and the bone dies. The antlers are shed in early spring and are grown again from early summer.
The size and extent of antlers may indicate a stag’s age, but teeth are a more accurate pointer. Stags with twelve points are called Royals, but the points must be equally distributed. A beast with five on one side and seven on the other will not be classified as a Royal.
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Stags with fourteen points used to be informally known as Imperials and those with sixteen as Monarchs. However, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer’s famous painting, ‘The Monarch of the Glen,’ clearly shows a stag with twelve points.
The much smaller roe deer also grow antlers, but they never exceed three points. They were the original inspiration for the book ‘Bambi.’ I wrote about roe deer a number of years ago.
Roe often shows up as a word in crossword puzzles.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. Some words appear regularly.
DeleteWe have so many deer in Michigan. I really like it when they have their velvets. They look really smooth. We have a lot of deer come into the garden despite living in the city. This summer we had a mother and two fawns. Really lovely to see them grow!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see them so regularly.
DeleteWhite-tailed deer are native where I live. They are lovely animals.
ReplyDeleteTheir eyes and noses are so beautiful.
DeleteI'm slightly shocked they were introduced by the Normans. Not the Romans? I wonder how we know this.
ReplyDeleteI had to check this and found the following:
Delete'Fallow deer were first brought to Britain from the western Mediterranean during the Roman period when they were kept within enclosures known as ‘vivaria’. Genetic analysis has shown that these Roman fallow deer went extinct in Britain following the collapse of the Roman Empire.
It was not until the 11th century that fallow deer were reintroduced, this time from the eastern Mediterranean.'
. . . and this . . .
'Fallow deer have been reintroduced twice, by the Romans and the Normans.'
Where my parents lived in Sussex, roe deer were becoming quite a problem for the local farmers as there was nothing to control their numbers. Not a problem though for the Magdalen College Oxford deer park, culls to control numbers meant that venison was a regular on the college dinner menu.
ReplyDeleteVenison is a fine meat, leaner and less fatty than other meats - a 'soft' meat.
DeleteI recognised the Landseer as soon as I opened your page. The handsome animal's position, and the rocks behind make him truly monarchical.
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful and the setting is perfect.
DeleteRed deer in Glen Torridon. Now that's a familiar topic.
ReplyDeleteCheers! Gail.
I knew you'd notice that immediately. I imagine you see them quite frequently.
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ReplyDeleteThe artist really caught the regality of the deer. No hard hooved animal is native to Australia and they are all pest species but we have fallow, red, chital, hog rusa and sambar.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whoever thought it a good idea to introduce non-native species. They cause a lot of damage.
DeleteAnother species we don't have here. I suppose they never managed to swim across the Irish Sea. If we ever come across venison in the shops it is generally the farmed variety usually from Scotland. A rare treat for us.
ReplyDeleteDo you have snakes or do you follow Ireland in that respect, too?
DeleteNo snakes, thankfully!
DeleteI always thought all deer grew antlers and didn't know they were shed each year, I thought they just grew larger year by year.
ReplyDeleteThey do add more points each year. I don't know quite how that works.
DeleteIt's disappointing that you didn't include two or three venison recipes.
ReplyDeleteOur son gave Barry a sous vide 'system' for his birthday. Venison cooked that way is delicious, soft and almost melting.
DeleteThe last deer looks so majestic and proud. Love the atmosphere it oozes
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful painting.
DeleteWhen I saw the cover photo and title of your post I knew I was going to like it. I have always dreamed of going to New Zealand and hunting Red Stags, but with hunts costing well over $20,000 it will never happen. It certainly is interesting the variety of deer you describe in your area.
ReplyDeleteDon't abandon your dreams - you just never know . . .
DeleteI love these beautiful animals! Unfortunately, I can't subscribe to your blog. I don't know why. When I click the "Followers" button on your blog, it tells me that I can't subscribe.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing them. They are majestic.
DeleteHow remarkable you now have so many species of deer due to centuries ago. We have white tail here at home and they are now using their antlers to scrape the bark off "my" trees. I try to protect them with white tree wrap, but they still ruin a few. None have died from the bark damage. Deer are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteThere's often a downside to beauty! What a privilege to see them so close, though.
ReplyDeleteNZ got oversupplied with introduced deer - European, Asian and even North American. Devastating to ecosystems previously devoid of all quadrupeds. (Them and goats, thar, chamois, rabbits, ..... and humans.)
ReplyDeleteOnce introduced, they have to be managed or culled, a huge problem either way.
DeleteI have seen does and this Summer a fawn in the woods behind my house, but I've never seen a stag,
ReplyDeleteThey are such a lovely sight.
DeleteThis is very interesting and such beautiful animals.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at how such large animals can just disappear so quickly into the woods.
DeleteI love deer. They are fast too.
ReplyDeleteThey are fast, but sometimes are hit by cars. Both deer and car are badly damaged by the impact. Sadly, the deer usually dies from shock.
DeleteI have seen British programs set in Scotland in which a magnificent red deer was involved. I don't think I know what program(s) now, however.
ReplyDeleteIt may have been a television drama series called 'Monarch of the Glen.' It was quite popular, though for some reason I never watched it.
Delete'The Monarch of the Glen' by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer is a beautiful painting.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's very romantic.
DeleteThey are magnificent animals and the stags have such a regal air about them. Beautiful painting by Landseer.
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous creatures.
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