looduskalender.ee

 

 

In dark during calm nights we hear the calls of the males quite close by…

 

There is much to notice in the video. The female, the hind, is beginning to change her reddish brown summer coat. On the head and neck the grey winter fur is already visible. The fawns were born with flecked camouflage fur and they have changed their coat to a greyish one already in early autumn, even a white tail mirror is visible.

 

Usually the hind gives birth to only one calf in May or early June (whether both calves belong to this hind is not clear but they keep company nicely …). The hind suckles the fawns for half a year and does not take part in this year’s matings. The young become sexually mature at 1½ years, so a young hind will mate already in autumn next year. The young males must wait for another year, and if strong stags are present, even longer…