From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the European species. For the Asian species, seeSiberian roe deer.
Male and female roe deerRange of the European roe deer
Theroe deer or (Capreolus capreolus) is adeer species ofEurope andAsia Minor. It is also calledEuropean roe deer to not confuse it with the related Asian species, theSiberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus).
The roe deer is a smaller deer. In the summer its fur is reddish-brown, in the winter it is greyish brown or dark brown. Fawns have a reddish-brown fur, with white spots on their back and sides.
Male roe deer haveantlers, which are small compared to other deer species. The antlers can become up to 20-25 cm (8-10 in) long, with two or three (rarely four) points.
Roe deer mate during July and August. After 10 months the female gives birth to 1-3 (usually 2) fawns, usually in May/June. They become mature when they are 1 1/2 year old. Roe deer can live up to 10-12 years in the wild, in captivity up to 17 years.
