The most common native deer in the UK is the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The species is commonly found across England and Scotland, though they are rarely seen in Wales, the Midlands and southern England. There are no recorded sightings of roe deer in Northern Ireland.
The UK is home to six deer species, but only the roe and red deer are truly native. By the 19th century, roe deer had vanished from much of the country, surviving mainly in Scotland and a few isolated pockets. Reintroductions from Europe, combined with conservation efforts to improve wildlife habitats, have allowed the species to recover, and the roe deer is now widespread and abundant.
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How many roe deer are there in the UK?
While this recovery is a conservation success, the lack of large predators in the UK means adult roe deer face few natural threats. As a result, the UK's roe deer population has steadily increased to reach an estimated 500,000, according to the People's Trust for Endangered Species. Although the UK's deer population has been estimated to be around two million, the exact number of deer is unknown.
What is the problem with a large roe deer population?
High densities of roe deer can have a serious impact on the environment as overgrazing damages woodlands by changing tree species composition and can have an impact on other plants and wildlife. To help manage roe deer growth, some populations are carefully culled to control numbers and protect habitats.
How to identify roe deer
These medium-sized native deer are recognisable by their reddish-brown summer coat, paler grey-brown winter coat, and the distinctive creamy-white rump patch. Males, or bucks, have short, upright antlers that usually carry three points, while females, known as does, have no antlers.
Found mostly in woodland areas, roe deer are predominantly crepuscular – meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk when they emerge to forage in open farmland and hedgerows on leaves, shoots, berries, and grasses.
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