Behaviour and dispersion in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

• Main Author: Cumming, H. G.
• Published: University of Aberdeen 1966
• Subjects: 599.65
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.452748

In this 3-year study of roe ecology, I described annual cycles and behaviour patterns before studying dispersion, home range, territorial behaviour and populations. Winter concentrations of roe in woods and on moorland usually included a doe, 2 kids, an adult buck and sometimes 1-2 other deer. Weather measurements showed that concentrations were in places where wind was reduced, but shelter used by roe was not as good on moorland as in woods. In summer roe occupied larger common ranges and no longer lived in groups. Individual ranges of marked adult bucks were uniformly spaced and overlapped little, suggesting that they were territorial or guarding does. Five chases of other bucks by an adult buck ended near a stream regardless of the location of does. Four shot adult bucks were replaced, but 3 yearlings were not. In 5 ranges where does were removed, the adult bucks remained and new does came in. I concluded tentatively that adult bucks during May-August were dominant in specific places rather than near does and hence were territorial. This suggested that roe stayed on the moor in winter despite poor shelter to be locations of their territories. Adult numbers did not appear to increase, despite nearly 2 young per doe annually and little predation or shooting. Young deer emigrated when adult bucks were territorial and aggressive but their fate was unknown. Adult bucks had ranges one-quarter the size where the population was 4 times denser. Possibly, territorial behaviour was limiting adult numbers.