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This article by the late Tom Pirrie, former Chairman of
the Wildlife Club was published in the Summer 2005 edition
of the Newsletter. It is the 2nd in a series of four articles
The Red Deer is probably the most resilient and adaptable
of all the British deer, but unfortunately we have no chance
of seeing them locally. Our forebears the original hunters
and gatherers who first colonised these islands over 7000
years ago when the ice retreated, followed the deer into Britain,
which at the time was part of the continent of Europe. As
the grip of the ice receded and
the soil warmed, a rich fauna and flora developed which gave
the deer all the cover and food they needed. This was vital
to the hunter gatherers who followed them. The deer gave them
almost everything they needed to survive, high protein food,
clothing, and tools, many antler tools have been found in
Scotland.
At one time they were distributed all over Britain, but are
now restricted to parts of England, the New Forest, North
Devon, Thetford, parts of Cumbria, South West Scotland, and
the Highlands. With the development of Deer farms all over
Britain, isolated small groups have been formed by "escapees",
so they could be encountered almost anywhere.
The southern stags stand approximately 100-120 cm high and
weigh on average 160 kg, while the northern hill stags are
approximately 30% shorter and lighter, but this does vary
according to the habitat. The coat is dark brown in winter
with a longer, coarser coat than any other British deer. The
calf
of the Red Deer is whitespotted at birth, but this is replaced
with a uniform dull brown fluffy coat within 6 weeks. The
voice of the stags during the rut is well known, but it can
still be awe inspiring, especially out on the open hill. The
calves are usually dropped in June and within 24 hours can
follow its mother for miles and can run faster than a man.
Our nearest Red Deer are in Galloway Forest Park, the herd
was established with a magnificent influx of
park deer from the south of England in the 19th century. Over
many years some of the best Red Deer in Scotland were to be
seen in Galloway. Sadly the quality of the wild herds has
diminished, partly due to the spread of escaped Sika Deer
from deer farms and also the unremitting policy of the Forestry
Commission who have adopted a policy of "shoot on sight",
which has resulted in a huge reduction in the numbers. It
is possible to see a few Red Deer in an enclosure just past
Clatteringshaws, but the chances of seeing them in their natural
habitat, the forest, are very slim. The decline in the purity
of Red Deer in Scotland is a major concern, the cross breeding
with Sika Deer on the increase and Sika DNA genes are now
found in many Red Deer with a consequent decline in the quality
of many of the pure Scottish herds, in many areas Sika Deer
now outnumber the Red Deer. I have many times stood in the
Highlands and Islands and been surrounded by the stags roaring
during the rut, it is a sight and sound that can be awe inspiring
and once heard can never be forgotten.
