Fallow Deer - Dama dama

Fallow deer have many colour varieties but they are typically fawn-coloured in the summer and reddish-brown in the winter. They have yellow-white undersides, white spots and a black line that runs along the back to the tip of the tail.  The rump is white with a black outline - like a white target and the black outline looks like a MacDonalds logo. The spots become less conspicuous or disappear in winter. Males have palmate (flattened) antlers. Fallow can also be white (not albino) or dark brown with spots hardly visible. Prefers to live in medium sized herds between 10-50 animals. Males (Bucks) generally live separately in bachelor hers outside of the rut (5-10 animals).

Sika deer

Adult Slots (Hoof prints) , Droppings

Male antlers palmate, distinct black outline on a white rump

Hoof prints (slots) Forefoot has a straight outer edge which bends before the tip, hind foot has a concave pear-shaped outer wall

Droppings - large, rounded with a conical point

Photograph the animal for verification where possible and/or a clear description of key ID features

All field signs require clear photographs, showing size and description.

Favours wooded areas and open parkland with domestic herds but sometimes on farmland in summer months.

All year round

Life span 12-16 years for females and 8-10 years for males. The 'rut' occurs in autumn when temperatures drop and breeding commences. Young are born in June-July after a gestation of ~234 days. They are weaned by the next rut and the females (does) usually breed as yearlings in the first season.

Introduced from Europe by the Normans and now well established in many parts of Britain and Ireland.

In Leicestershire and Rutland there are park herds at Donnington, Calke estate and Bradgate Park and there are locally common feral populations in north-west Leicestershire and north-east Rutland.