Fallow Deer

The fallow deer is originally thought to come from the Mediterranean region of Europe extending into Asia minor as far as Persia and Iraq. The coat is typically fawn with white spots on the back and flanks in the summer. In the winter it's grayish brown without spots. The fallow deer also has a rump patch that is white edged with black, and a black line down back and tail. Young fallow deer are spotted in some color varieties. Its antlers are branched and flattened measuring around two to three feet. Males begin to grow them at the age of 2 and every April will shed them and regrow slightly larger ones each year.

The nervous fallow deer is adaptable in diet and climatic conditions. It has a keen sense of smell, sight and hearing that help the deer defend itself and find food. It will live in a small herd, with groups of 70 or more. Outside the mating season, males form their own roaming herds separate from females and young. Fawns are born in late May or early June and will stay with their mother for two years. The doe protects her young by staying away from the herd until the fawn can run with her. In times of trouble, she will also draw attention away from her fawn. The baby fallow deer will freeze and try and blend in with the undergrowth, while the doe bolts to draw attention.