Red Deer

Red Stag or Hart in Scotland (courtesy of Guinnog)
Herd of Red Deer (courtesy of Paul Birrel)

The mighty Red Deer Cervus elaphus is the largest mammal in the UK with a big stag or 'Hart' weighing in at nearly 40 stone and standing four feet at the shoulder. The Stags antlers are impressive weapons, used for the rut they can grow to three feet long and sport many points, a deer with twelve points is known as a 'Royal'.

In Scotland numbers of Red Deer must be controlled for the damage they cause to forestry, here in Suffolk we only have a sparse population and control is considered by most, unnecessary. Due to the animals size deer proof fencing would need to be excessively high for most gardens.

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