deer
The red deer is the largest mammal in the Netherlands.
The red deer
The red deer is the largest mammal in the Netherlands. They grow between 1.5 and 2 meters tall and males (stags) are larger than females (hinds). In addition to its striking length, the red deer can be recognized by its white belly and cream-colored "mirror. Furthermore, red deer have a short tail that is brown in color.
During the rutting season, stags and does seek each other out to mate. The rest of the year the animals live in separate packs. Males together in one pack and the does and immature animals together in another pack.
Red deer also often leave fawns alone among the thicket for the first 2 weeks. The mother returns only to let the young suckle. Young red deer also have white spots on their fur, which in most cases disappear as the animals get older.
Male red deer have impressive antlers. The growth of these so-called "spike antlers" begins when the male is 1 year old and grows larger and larger as the animal ages. A red deer's antlers can have up to 13 branches. In late winter, the antlers are shed after which new antlers begin to grow immediately. Red deer also have a bark skin over their antlers that they shed around August.
source maxvandaag
                                
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