The European continent boasts a wide range of animals, some of which are sources of food and sport.
One such animal is the deer. Many types of deer inhabit various parts of Europe’s diverse wildlife.
Some deer species originated from Europe, and those from other parts of the world were introduced into the continent many decades ago.
Let us explore some common deer found in Europe and their unique traits and habitats.
1. Red Deer
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest species globally and has earned a reputation as a popular target for sport and food hunting.
Their distinctive reddish-brown coat color and large size make them easily identifiable in the wild. Unlike other deer species, red deer lack spots on their bodies.
Stags (male deer) can reach lengths of 175 to 250 cm and weigh between 160 and 240 kg, while hinds (female deer) grow to lengths of 160-210 cm and weigh between 120 and 170 kg.
Red deer possess notably large and lengthy antlers, with some weighing up to 5 kg and measuring 91 cm.
Red deer exhibit highly social behavior and typically move in large herds. During mating seasons, males display aggressive behaviors to drive away other males from their harem.
Following mating, the herds separate, with females departing to give birth and males shedding their antlers to join a male herd.
Hunters pursue red deer across Europe for sustenance and recreational purposes, and these deer have received a conservation status of “least concern.”
2. Roe Deer
Roe deer (Capreolus Capreolus) are one of the types of deer in Europe, and they have widespread distribution across the continent.
People recognize them for their distinctive white rump patch. These deer inhabit various parts of Europe, especially woodlands and farmlands.
They typically are small, measuring 95–135 cm in length and standing 63–67 cm tall at the shoulder. They weigh 15 to 35 kg.
Roe deer can grow antlers up to 20–25 cm in length with two to four points, and their antlers are covered in velvet-like fur as they begin to regrow.
Bucks can expedite this process by rubbing their antlers on trees to make them hard for duels during mating season.
Unlike most deer species, roe deer almost immediately start regrowing their antlers after shedding them.
Roe deer are found in most regions of Europe except northernmost Scandinavia, Iceland, Ireland, and the Mediterranean Sea islands.
In the Mediterranean region, they are primarily found in mountainous areas and are rarely seen at low altitudes. They are also in Belgium, Britain, Iran, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Israel.
3. White-Tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a medium-sized deer native to the Americas but found worldwide, including Europe.
There are about 26 subspecies of white-tailed deer across the world.
White-tailed deer have a reddish-brown coat during spring and summer, which changes to grey-brown during fall and winter.
The distinctive white underside of their tails distinguishes them. Interestingly, white-tailed deer raise their tails to warn their predators that they have been detected.
White-tailed deer vary in size, depending on the species. Some species of North American male deer (buck) weigh between 68 and 136 kg, while the female deer (doe) weigh 40 to 90kg.
Also, they can grow between 95 to 220 cm in length. Male bucks regrow their antlers yearly, while very few females grow antlers. The antlers can grow between 8 to 60 cm long.
White-tailed deer are ruminants that consume many meals, including legumes, shoots, leaves, acorns, fruits, corn, and grasses.
Predators of the white-tailed deer include humans, wolves, cougars, jaguars, bears, coyotes, and alligators.
4. Siberian Roe Deer
The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is a small yet captivating species that is unique to Siberia’s vast and wild landscapes.
It primarily inhabits the expansive forests of northern Eurasia, including Russia, Mongolia, and China, and has adapted to a wide range of environments, from dense forests to open grasslands.
Remarkably, it thrives in some of the harshest climates on Earth.
In Siberia, the roe deer’s range extends from the western Ural Mountains to the eastern shores of the Sea of Okhotsk.
They can also be found in other parts of Asia, particularly mountainous regions and open woodlands.
This adaptability to diverse environments is crucial to the Siberian roe deer’s survival and resilience.
The Siberian roe deer is a small deer species. Males reach heights of about 65-75 cm at the shoulder and weigh between 30 and 50 kg, while females are slightly smaller.
They possess a distinctive reddish-brown coat in summer, transitioning to a grayish-brown hue in winter, aiding their camouflage.
Both males and females sport short, three-pointed antlers that are shed and regrown annually.
Siberian roe deer are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the dawn and dusk.
They tend to be solitary animals, although they may form small family groups during breeding.
This behavior helps them avoid predators and ensures the sustainable utilization of resources within a specific area.
Roe deer are renowned for their agility and swift movements, allowing them to navigate through dense vegetation adeptly.
They are exceptional swimmers and will not hesitate to traverse rivers and lakes when required, showcasing their adaptability and resourcefulness.
5. European Reindeer
European Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) is one of the types of deer in Europe primarily found in polar regions.
They are native to the Arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America.
European reindeer are numerous. Some species and subspecies are in decline and considered vulnerable.
They are unique among deer (Cervidae) in that females may have antlers, although the prevalence of antlered females varies by species and subspecies.
Reindeer are one of the few species of deer worldwide that can be domesticated to some extent.
They serve as an essential source of food, clothing, and shelter for people in the Arctic region.
6. Mouflon
The Mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) is a wild sheep from Corsica, Sardinia, and Cyprus.
Mouflon possesses a compact, muscular build and distinctive curved horns.
They prefer mountainous terrain and are renowned for their agility and capacity to navigate rocky landscapes.
Mouflon exhibits an instantly recognizable appearance. They feature a robust, compact physique, a thick coat with colors ranging from reddish-brown to gray, and a conspicuous white rump patch.
Both males, referred to as rams, and females, known as ewes, have impressive, curved horns. These horns display a unique spiral shape and serve in territorial and dominance exhibitions.
Mouflon is celebrated for their social behavior and hierarchical social structure.
Rams establish territories and engage in intense competitions during the rutting season, employing their horns in displays of dominance and competition for ewes’ attention.
Ewes frequently form groups with their offspring, and these family units play a critical role in nurturing and safeguarding the young.
Mouflon are primarily diurnal, meaning they are most active during daylight hours. Their adaptability to mountainous terrain underscores their agility and navigational abilities.
7. Corsican Red Deer
The Corsican Red Deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus) is a subspecies of the red deer and gets its name from the island of Corsica, France, where it originated.
However, since the early 1970s, red deer have been almost extinct on the island, but they have spread across other parts of Europe.
The Corsican Red Deer shares many physical characteristics resembling European red deer relatives.
Adults have a coat that varies in color, typically reddish-brown in summer and greyer in winter.
Corsican Red Deer are known for their social behavior. They often form small herds, with a dominant stag leading the group.
During the mating season, which occurs in the autumn, stags engage in territorial behavior and compete for the attention of the hinds.
Bellowing calls and fierce contests for mating rights mark this period.
The deer are primarily crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk.
Their agility and swiftness enable them to easily navigate the rugged terrain of Corsica.
8. Fallow Deer
The fallow deer (Dama Dama) is a type of deer in Europe revered for its striking appearance and graceful presence in woodlands and grasslands across the continent.
Although fallow deer are found in many parts of the world, they are native to Europe. Their habitat preferences vary widely, but they are most commonly found in deciduous and mixed woodlands, open grasslands, and meadows.
Fallow deer are found in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
One of the most distinctive features of fallow deer is their coat. They possess a spotted pattern with various color variations, including brown, black, and white spots.
This unique color variation gives them an excellent form of camouflage in the forest, mainly to hide from predators.
Adult males possess antlers that can measure up to 70 cm in length. The antlers are shed and regrown yearly, and during mating, males use them to fight with other males for the attention of their desired does (female deer).
Fallow deer consume various plant materials, including grasses, leaves, twigs, fruits, and acorns.
Their dietary flexibility allows them to adapt to different seasons and environments, ensuring survival despite changing food availability.
9. Moose
The moose (Alces alces) is one of the largest types of deer in Europe, and in some regions, it is also known as an elk.
They are primarily found in the continent’s northern and eastern parts, including areas like Scandinavia and Russia.
In North America, moose are the tallest and second-largest land mammals, trailing only the American buffalo in mass.
Among deer species, the moose is the largest and heaviest today.
Most mature male moose possess distinctive broad antlers with a palmate or “open-hand shaped” configuration.
This sets them apart from other deer family members who typically have antlers with a dendritic or “twig-like” design.
Moose predominantly inhabit boreal forests, temperate broadleaf, and mixed forests in the Northern Hemisphere, specifically in temperate to subarctic climates.
Unfortunately, hunting and other human activities have reduced the moose’s geographical range.
However, efforts have been made to reintroduce them to some of their previous habitats.
Moose have an omnivorous diet, including both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. Their predators encompass wolves, bears, humans, and, on rare occasions, wolverines. When swimming in the ocean, they may also face threats from orcas.
Unlike most other deer species, moose are solitary creatures and do not form herds.
Except for calves, moose remain with their mother until the cow enters estrus, typically around 18 months after giving birth to the calf, at which point the cow drives them away.
Despite their generally slow and passive nature, moose can become aggressive and move quickly when provoked or startled.
During their autumn mating season, energetic battles between males vying for a female’s attention are every day.
10. Iberian Red Deer
The Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) is a subspecies of the European red deer, originating from the Iberian Peninsula of Spain and Portugal.
They inhabit diverse environments, from Mediterranean woodlands and montane forests to open grasslands and scrubland.
Iberian red deer are one of the types of deer in Europe known for their complex social structure.
During most of the year, they form herds separated by sex. Stags often live in bachelor groups, while hinds and their young form larger herds.
During the rutting season, typically in the fall, stags compete fiercely for the attention of hinds. Roaring and antler-clashing battles ensue as they vie for dominance and mating rights.
Iberian red deer are herbivores with a varied diet. They consume grasses, sedges, herbs, and woody browse, adapting their feeding habits to seasonal availability.
They also play a vital role in seed dispersal, helping to regenerate the forests and grasslands they inhabit.
