What do deer eat? What are antlers made of? And more deer facts

Did you know that a red deer stag will shed and regrow its huge antlers every single year? Or that a muntjac deer can eat up to 85 different types of plants? Read on to find out more about these fascinating creatures.

What do deer eat?

All of the UK’s six deer species are herbivorous, which means they feed on plants. Grasses, sedges, the leaves and shoots of trees and other woody plants are all on the menu. Fruit and berries are sometimes eaten too, while tree bark is taken when other food is scarce. Of the UK’s deer species, only the roe (Capreolus capreolus) and red (Cervus elaphus) are native. Fallow deer (Dama dama) have been present for at least 1,000 years, while muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), sika (Cervus nippon) and Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) were all introduced within the last 200 years. Each of these species can occur in woodland, although the Chinese water deer is more commonly found in marshy areas.

Unfortunately, the eating habits of deer can sometimes have a negative impact on woodland ecosystems. By feeding on young trees, deer can prevent the natural growth of new woodland (a process known as natural regeneration). Large numbers of deer can also eat plants that other wildlife, such as birds and insects, depend on for food and shelter.

Historically, predators such as wolves and lynx would have kept deer numbers in check, limiting these impacts. Free from such predation, UK deer numbers may have now reached a 1,000-year high. As a result, the active management of deer numbers through fencing and/or shooting is sometimes necessary to maintain natural ecological processes in our woodlands.

What are deer antlers made of?

Deer antlers are actually made of bone. All the UK’s species grow antlers except the Chinese water deer. Red deer grow the largest antlers, which can reach an impressive three feet in length and have 15 points or more. Muntjac antlers are the smallest, often growing no longer than 10cm.

Only males grow antlers, which are shed and regrown each year. When they first emerge, antlers are covered in a soft, hairy-like material known as velvet. This provides oxygen and nutrients to the bone, helping it to grow rapidly. Velvet is eventually shed by rubbing the antlers against a tree. By this point the antlers have completely hardened and are ready to be used in fights between deer.

Why do deer have antlers?

Red, fallow, sika and roe deer all use their antlers to fight for access to females. When ready to breed, rival males will lock antlers, pushing and twisting until the weaker of the two flees, leaving the victor free to mate. This behaviour is known as rutting.

Muntjac use their antlers to fight, but also use the tusks that protrude from their mouth as weapons. The antler-less Chinese water deer relies solely on its tusks to compete for mating rights. As well as helping deer to find a mate, antlers may also be used to defend against predators.