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Fallow Deer (Dama dama)

by Mark Walker

Weight 35-100kg

Body length 130-160cm

Height- 95cm

Chestnut brown with distinctive white spots

The Fallow Deer belong to their own genus, the Dama, which differs from other deer in that the antlers are palmated. There are thought to be two subspecies of fallow deer, the Mesopotamian Fallow Deer, and the European Fallow Deer. The Mesopotamian Fallow deer has almost been hunted to extinction in its native middle east. The European Fallow Deer occurs throughout Europe and is numerous. The European Fallow Deer originally occurred throughout Europe before the last ice age, but retreated towards the Mediterranean and North Africa as the ice advanced. It was re-introduced back into Northern and Western Europe by the Romans. Further introductions were carried out in the middle ages. The Fallow Deer is a popular parkland animal, and has been kept and bred for many centuries. Through selective breeding a number of different colour types have been produced, these include black, white and red forms. The Fallow Deer seems to have evolved from the Sika Deer.

This fallow deer shows its distinctive rump markings

What are most noticeable about the fallow deer are it's large palmated antlers, and their distinctive spotted coats. The Fallow Deer is smaller than the Red Deer. They have a long head, large eyes, prominent ears and good all round senses. They have a characteristic black and white rump. The Fallow Deer looks most impressive after the moult, which occurs in summer in June, at this time of year the coat is glossy shiny and clean. During the winter the coat is thicker, rougher and has a thicker undercoat. The Rutting season is later than in Red Deer usually occurring in November. The bucks' antlers have finished growing in September and are not cast until May. Pregnancy lasts 7 or 8 months and the fawns are born in mid-June. Fallow Deer have a life span of 20-30 years.

Fallow Deer are a common parkland deer, being kept by many stately homes, however wild herds do occur. Fallow Deer prefer to live in habitats with glades and open woodland. In parkland they often produce characteristic 'browse lines' on trees, by eating all the branches they can reach. Overall the Fallow Deer has many of the ways of other deer.

Questions and Answers

Where do Fallow Deer live?

Originally the Fallow Deer comes from the Eastern Mediterranean but it has been introduced throughout Europe. Most of the original Eastern herds have been exterminated leaving the European herds as the bulk of the remaining population. The Fallow Deer likes deciduous woodland, with many grassy areas. They like 'parkland' type areas. They are particularly common in South and East England, but less common in Northern Britain.

What does the Fallow Deer look like?

There are several varieties of fallow deer, each with a different colour. However most are chestnut brown with white spots. They have a black and white tail. The male has broad flattened antlers. The antlers are palmated. The does do not possess antlers. Fallow Deer weigh 35-100kg.

What do Fallow Deer eat?

Fallow deer prefer to feed at dusk and dawn and rest during the day. They prefer to graze in grassy open areas.

How do they breed?

The rutting time is from October to November. As for the Red Deer, the male tries to collect a group of females into a harem. Rival males will fight fiercely and will often clash antlers.

When are the young born?

The young are born after an 8 month gestation period. Only one fawn is born. They normally hide in long grass and are brown with white spots. They can live for 15-20 years.