Ecology Range: Europe, Caucasus mountains, western Asia, Central Asia and Asia minor. Lifespan: years Reaches maturity: 8 years males, 6 years females. Size: Adult male (stag) 120cm at the shoulder. Female (hind) 110cm shoulder height. Identification: Red to brown coat in summer which darkens to grey-brown in winter. This species is gender dimorphic meaning males look different to females. Males grow antlers once mature. A stag with more than 12 tines is known as a 'Royal'. Antlers are shed and re-grown each year with an extra tine. They are covered in a soft furry substance called ‘velvet’ which is shed before the antlers are lost. Habitat: Open Mooreland, Grasslands, Deciduous, Coniferous and mixed Woodlands with open meadow clearings. Mating: Males fight for groups of females called ‘harems’ during the months of September and October. This season is called ‘Rutting Season’. Males walk parallel to each other to size up the opponents size and antlers, if neither break off, this escalates to a clash of antlers. The male who is injured or overpowered first, loses forfeiting the right to mate with any females that year. The successful male mates with the females and does not eat for the whole season! Predation: Red Deer are naturally predated by the Eurasian wolf, Canis lupus lupus. Normally a single wolf cannot over power a deer and must work in a group called a ‘pack’ to do so. The deer’s primary advantage is strong hind legs which allow them to bound long distances while using up very little energy. History in Ireland Red deer Cervus elaphus are the largest mammal species in Ireland. They were wiped out due to extreme conditions and reestablished after the end of the last Ice Age (c. 10,000 BC). Red Deer were abundant in Ireland up to the last 300 years where anthropogenic stressors such as hunting and deforestation caused the extinction of many deer populations. In the 19th century the last population of Red deer were severely restricted. Since then deer farms like that of Millstreet Country Park and various deer reintroductions have increased populations numbers across the country. Most are based in Co. Wicklow, and Killarney. Wild herds are found in Glenveagh, Co. Donegal, Connemara, Co. Galway and areas of Co Mayo. Hunting and use of Red Deer Red Deer were a primary source of meat for Neolithic and Bronze age man throughout Europe. At this time in Ireland (c c. 500 BC), these people would have used Fulacht Fiadhs to cook venison (Deer meat). ‘Fulacht Fiadh’ in fact, means ‘cooking place of the deer’. One can see a Fulacht Fiadh existing here on the grounds of Millstreet Country Park indicating that deer were present here centuries ago. Red Deer continued to be a valuable food source during medieval times. In England, the Forest Law was passed stating that Red deer, Fallow Deer, Roe Deer and the wild Boar could only be hunted by the nobility and ruling monarchs. Deer are farmed to the present day here in Millstreet Country Park. Wapiti, a New Zealand breed, are also bred here. At the peak of the summer population numbers can reach 250 individuals. Deer meat is low in fat and tender. Customer countries included Germany and England. 1 year old stags at Millstreet Country ParkFemale (hind) deer roaming in Millstreet Country Park Adult stags at Millstreet Country Park