The roe deer is an ungulate found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. In the Dolomites it is quite common, although not always easy to spot. It has relatively short antlers—this is the term used for the horns of deer species—typically with three points on each side in adult males, which are shed and regrown every year.
The Roe deer
Its body is slender and well-proportioned, with a coat that ranges from reddish-brown in summer to greyish-brown in winter, while the muzzle tends toward grey. One of its most distinctive features is the pale patch on its rump, especially visible when the animal is fleeing. The roe deer is extremely fast and reactive, capable of sudden bursts of speed and very sharp changes in direction.
It is the smallest deer species in Europe, but also one of the most adaptable. It lives along forest edges, in clearings, and in transitional areas between woodland and open ground—environments that provide both cover and feeding opportunities. In the Dolomites it can often be found at relatively high elevations, particularly in quiet and less disturbed areas.
These habitats are often shaped by the presence of different tree species, which play an important role in providing both shelter and food. To better understand this environment, you can explore the page dedicated to the trees of the Dolomites.
Its build is typical of an animal adapted for jumping: the hind legs, longer and more powerful than the front ones, allow it to move with great agility through dense vegetation, steep slopes, and thick undergrowth. When moving, it alternates between a light, cautious walk and elegant, silent leaps that help it overcome natural obstacles with ease.
Distribution and habitat
It is widespread in most continental Europe, Great Britain, and the Middle East but absent in Ireland, Portugal, and Greece. In Italy, it is found in the Alps and the Apennines. Lately, there has been a slow recolonization of the woods of the Po Valley, in particular of the Ticino Park, but also of the recent reforestation carried out along the Po thanks to the contributions of the European Union.
Some specimens have recently been introduced within Nebrodi Park. These are specimens from Emilia-Romagna concentrated in Galati Mamertino as part of a project to reintroduce the species.
The roe deer is widespread in open woods where the undergrowth is thick and that are interspersed with clearings and bushy areas, both in the plain (even where it is cultivated and even where agriculture is intensive as long as it finds bushes where to take refuge), both in the hills, both in the mountains, both in wetlands.
Description
The roe deer is a small deer with a reddish-brown coat in summer. The throat, the ventral parts, and the anal region called the anal mirror, are white. The tail is very short and does not emerge from the fur, although in the female, a tuft of hair covers the vulva. The male has small antlers with only three points; these fall off every year (from October to December) and grow back at the end of winter.
Dentition and age determination
The jaw of the roe deer differs from that of the chamois by the more significant protrusion in the front part. The dentition is complete after one year and includes 32 teeth. To determine the age of the roe deer, only two types of dentition can be distinguished: the milk and the definitive one.
The milk dentition includes 20 teeth. The lower half of the jaw has three incisors, a false canine (which has the function of a 4th incisor), and three premolars, while in the upper one, the incisors are absent. Characteristic is the third lower premolar with three ridges.
After the age of one year, the definitive dentition includes 32 teeth. Three molars are added to the three premolars, and the third lower premolar has only two ridges.
The roe deer’s vocalization
Barking. Yes, the roe deer barks. The vocalization, scientifically called scrocchio (in Italian), represents a profound and rhythmic sound, similar to the hoarse barking of a dog, and is emitted by both male and female roe deer in various circumstances. It is repeated several times and probably falls within the alarm signals. It is generally used more by the male than by the female.
Morphological and physiological particularities
Like other ungulates, the roe deer is adapted for running, and its limbs are developed for this purpose. It can leap barriers that are 2 meters high and even 7/8 of its body length.
The hoof print of an adult roe deer is distinguishable from that of a deer and a chamois by its shape and size. The dimensions of the print are approximately 4-5 cm x 3 cm (its prints are the smallest among all wild ungulates in Western Europe).
The hooves are somewhat pointed and slim. Like deer, the roe deer has developed hearing and sense of smell. The digestive system is typical of ruminants. However, the roe deer requires a more nutrient-rich diet than deer and, due to its smaller size, cannot accumulate large stores of fat under the skin.
Roe Deer Behavior
During the late spring to early summer (May/June), females give birth to one or two fawns with a characteristic brown coat that is densely spotted.
The mating season occurs from mid-July to late August, and courtship involves a series of pursuits by the male towards the female.
The gestation period lasts about nine and a half months; after fertilization, the egg implants in the mother’s uterus but remains dormant until December, when it resumes development. This characteristic is known as delayed implantation.
In contrast to the chamois, the fawn does not follow the mother but remains hidden in the grass, where the mother reaches it for feeding several times throughout the day. This leads to high mortality; its predators include eagles and foxes that may attack the young. With the arrival of autumn, the males join the herds of females and often take a place at the bottom of the hierarchy. The young reach sexual maturity after the first year of life, around 14 months of age. They can live up to a maximum age of 12-18 years.
Use of time
The roe deer’s activity is closely synchronized with dawn and dusk, but unlike deer, its activity extends more in the morning and starts earlier in the evening. During these periods, it often emerges into open areas such as meadows or clearings. Daytime hours are primarily spent in a shelter concealed in the woods. Nocturnal activity is frequently interrupted by resting phases.
Social behavior of Roe Deer
Roe deer exhibit territorial behavior, with individuals residing stably in well-defined areas, generally more prominent in males than females. Their behavior varies between the spring-summer period and the autumn-winter period. In winter, they tend to form groups without gender distinction, especially in agricultural areas, while in wooded areas, smaller groups (families) are often observed.
During spring-summer, the animals are more individualistic, and one typically observes groups consisting of a female with offspring or, during the mating season, a male with a female.
Shy and mostly solitary by nature, the roe deer is most active at dawn and dusk, when it ventures out to feed. During the day it usually remains hidden in vegetation, relying on the camouflage of its coat and its remarkable ability to detect even the slightest noise or movement.
Interspecific Relationships
Like other ungulates, the roe deer also has few natural enemies. In the Dolomites, we can mention the golden eagle and the fox, which can sometimes attack the young. “The recent arrival of the wolf in the Dolomites, however, represents a new danger for the roe deer.” The presence of the lynx should not be forgotten. Natural factors are then added to those related to humans, such as hunting activity or the presence of stray dogs.
Curio and Legends
The roe deer represents a symbol of the soul’s journey after death.
Scientific classification of the roe deer
Scientific classification
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Superordin: Ungulate
Ordin: Artiodactyla
Subordin: Ruminantia
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Capreolinae
Genus: Capreolus
Species: C. capreolus