Roe deer

The roe deer is our most common species of deer. It thrives in woodlands, hedgerows, and increasingly in many gardens – even in the middle of towns – where it feasts on various flower heads and enjoys the peace and quiet that prevails most days. You could say that the roe deer is very good at adapting to human presence, although some gardeners may be a little tired of them, while others simply enjoy these trusting animals.

Like other Danish deer, male roe deer grow a new set of antlers each year – antlers which they use to impress the females and fight with other males. The antlers grow during the winter, covered in a layer of skin known as velvet. In the spring, the bucks rub the velvet off on small trees and shrubs. This is called "fraying". Look closely at the young trees and shrubs in the forest; you might find some that look as if they’ve been vandalized – it’s obvious, as the bark is often stripped off in long ribbons.