Roe Deer
Quick facts
Common name: Roe Deer
Scientific name: Capreolus capreolus
Origin: native
Length: 0.9-1.3m
Shoulder height: 60-75cm
Weight: 10-25kg
Colour: Reddish, Grey-Brown
Average lifespan: 7 years
Information
What do they eat: Grasses, sedges, the leaves and shoots of trees and other woody plants. Fruit and berries are sometimes eaten too.
One of only two native species of deer in the UK, the Roe Deer is the most common in the Northeast of England.
Both sexes of roe deer make a dog-like barking sound and they can reach up to 37 miles per hour when they run.
If you ever find a young deer that looks as though it has been abandoned – leave it alone and creep away quietly. A mother deer normally leaves her babies hidden while she goes off to feed and will return later when nobody is about.