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Roe deer doe and buck

 

 

Last winter was quite manageable for roe deer in Estonia, not so severe as a couple of recent ones. Now indeed only the strongest specimens have been preserved; the recovery of the population thus need not take a number of years and it will not be very long until we again might meet these graceful animals feeding in flocks.

 

In mid-July the rut period of deer begins, generally lasting until half of August. The time of conception for the female is only 3-4 days. On the territory of an adult roe buck generally only does are tolerated (there might be some buck-to-be who knows his place). The buck must know precisely when and where to move in order to do his „male duty“. The abundance of deer earlier led to quite serious consequences in the fights between bucks and sometimes even to the death of both combatants.

 

The doe will give birth to the kids in May-June, the suckling period lasts until the rut period, about 6-10 weeks, depending on the individuals. The kids that are a few months old at the rut period, and are self-reliant but there are plenty of dangers. Afterwards the mother finds them, and the family is united again. The doe suckles the kids until autumn, but it is no longer direct feeding but rather a social interaction.

 

The mating is worth seeing. An older and experienced female lets the buck chase her for hours, sometimes even days before she yields or feels that the time is right for mating – always the doe first and the buck following, panting and eyes inside out. Immediately before the mating they will rush in a ring of some meters’ diameter and then it happens .... Such trampled patches in hayfields are called „deer witch circles“ or "deer magic circles". Females mate for the first time at one year of age and an old buck may treat them quite brutally.

 

The kids are threatened by powerful and fast haymowing machines because a roe deer kid will not flee but presses itself to the earth. Stray dogs are quite problematic. Among animals of prey foxes, but their numbers have been limited by scabies, of course lynxes and wolves; among birds of prey golden eagles.