looduskalender.ee

 

 

The mating period of red deer is at an end everywhere in Saaremaa. The deer cows move individually, the competing males (the stags) have not yet gathered into the male gangs of winter.

 

The photo shows deer cows of various ages. Whether there are any calves from the present year among them remains unknown, because in autumn the white spots disappear from the coats of the young ones, the animals grow winter furs and estimating age from size would only be conjecture. Young animals become independent at two years of age, and reach sexual maturity at 3 years, the latter valid for females. In the hierarchy of males years pass for the young animals before they have fought to hold their place in the sun – the breeders will always be the largest and most powerful stags.

 

In 8 months, or from early May, we can expect red deer progeny in the Saaremaa forests.

 

Image from web camera captured by  Konny, LK forum

 

The stag Huubert (so viewers call him), familiar to all and with magnificent antlers, came to inspect the cows, just in case. Here we can see the difference in proportions between females and males. Large stags weigh somewhat less than 200 kilos, the weight of a few very rare individuals may reach up to 300 kilos. The weight of adult cows can reach a hundred kilos.

 

We have seen a young stag with ”stick antlers” in camera view – their antlers begin to develop in the second year; from the camera images we can see that life is already independent now.

 

Image from web camera recorded by  Bea, LK forum