Roe deer

The roe deer is our most common species of deer. It thrives in forests, hedgerows and, increasingly, in many gardens, even in the middle of towns, where it feeds on various flower heads and enjoys the peace and quiet that most days offer. It could be said that roe deer are good at adapting to humans, even though some garden owners are probably a little tired of them, while others simply enjoy these trusting animals.

Like other Danish deer, male roe deer grow new antlers every year – a headdress that they use to impress females and fight other males. The headdress grows over the winter, when it is covered by a layer of skin called velvet. In the spring, the deer clean the bast off with small trees and bushes. This is called “sweeping”. Take a look at the small trees and bushes in the forest, and you may find some that look as if they have been vandalised – it is quite obvious, as the bark is usually peeled off the trees in long strips.