Fallow deer

It isn’t always easy to find a fallow deer. Even though it is Denmark’s second largest deer, and the male bucks can weigh up to 100 kg, they can still be very discrete and unobtrusive. Luckily, they run around with “number plates” so even if you only see the rear end of a herd of deer running away at full speed, because you have startled them, you’ll still know what they are. They have “111” neatly written on their rear end. The rear end is white with a black stripe on either side, and right in the middle hangs a short tail, that is also black on the upper-side – 3 x 1 = 111.

If you can get a lot closer to a fallow deer, then actually they are easy to identify. They have white spots on their backs, white underbellies, and if the males are in good shape, then they will also have lovely shovel-shaped antlers.

If you have a bit of time, and are very patient, then you can learn how to identify every buck in a herd. The pattern of white spots is different in every animal, but you will probably need to take some good photos of them first. In Bøtø forest, there is a small population of dark fallow deer.