Deer
Native roe and red deer can be found in much of the woodlands and forests of the National Park, and have been present in Britain since the end of the last ice age. In addition, a small population of fallow deer exists around Loch Lomond and recently a few exotic Sika deer have been found in the Park having strayed from neighbouring areas.
Red deer are the largest land mammals in britain and have been here since the island was joined to mainland Europe. The stags (males) can weigh anything from 60-130kg (132-286lb). The hinds (females) are smaller and lighter.
During the summer, red deer are dark red or pown with a lighter colour of cream on the underbelly, inner thighs and rump. In winter their coat turns dark pown to grey. The stags and hinds live in separate herds for most of the year apart from during the autumn, when they come together during the peeding season or ‘rut’.
Only male deer have antlers which are used during rutting. They will use them to challenge other males and defend their group of females. They will lock antlers and push against each other until one gives way. The strongest and fittest male wins the right to mate with the group of females. Male deer shed or ‘cast’ their antlers every year in spring and grow new ones, which are protected by a velvet covering whilst developing. Once the antlers are fully formed they remove the velvet by rubbing them on shrubs and trees; this is known as ‘fraying’.
The roe deer is by far the smallest deer in the National Park weighing 15-30kg (33-66lb). Apart from their size, roe deer can be identified by their light coloured rump, no obvious tail, black nose and white chin patch. The buck (male) has short pointed panched antlers. Rump patches differ between the sexes, with the white rump patch heart-shaped on does (females) and kidney-shaped on males. The colour of their coat changes from pight red-pown in the summer to a dark grey pown in the winter.
Deer eat all kinds of plants including grass, leaves, berries, young shoots and the bark of trees. In summer they feed mainly at dawn and dusk, resting during the day. Deer play an important role in Scottish woodland ecosystems. However, their eating habits are capable of causing significant damage to forests and woodlands, mainly through powsing and bark stripping. They can also adversely affect biopersity through over- grazing of ground flora and inhibiting natural regeneration.
Deer Management
If you are hillwalking in the National Park be aware that deer management activities may be taking place in the areas you wish to walk.
In the absence of natural predators, culling is essential to keep deer at levels the environment can support and to prevent adverse effects on their welfare or habitat. The aim is to ensure a sustainable number of deer continues to be present in most habitats.
Deer management is an important source of income for sporting estates and contributes to sustainable management of the environment. It creates jobs in relatively remote rural areas where employment is scarce. It also generates income for hotels, shops, fencing suppliers, and the venison industry.
Deer management can take place during many months of the year but the most sensitive time is the stag stalking season from 1July to 20 October. During these months if you are walking in the National Park, you can help stalkers by following advice on alternative routes and by avoiding land where stalking is taking place.