HELLO DEERS!

Meet the six species of deer living wild in Britain

TAKE a walk in the countryside at this time of year and you might find some antlers on the ground as deer shed them to grow a new pair for autumn.

The UK is home to more than a million deer. Learn all about them here...

ROE DEER

These deer live in small herds in winter and have coats that are reddishbrown in colour. The

Bucks have short antlers. Size/weight: About 75cm at the shoulder, up to 25kg.

Where to see them: In woodland across England, Scotland and in parts of Wales.

RED DEER

The largest of all British deer can live for up to 20 years. It has reddishbrown fur with a cream rump. Its impressive antlers can grow up to a metre long. Size/weight: About 135cm, up to 190kg. Where to see them: Woodland and open moors in Scotland, the Lake District, East Anglia and South West England.

FALLOW DEER

Fallow deer were introduced from Europe by the Normans in the 11th century. Coats range, from pale brown to almost black.

Size/weight: About 95cm, up to 80kg. Where to see them: Widespread across England and Wales, some parts of Scotland in woodland or on open agricultural land.

SIKA DEER

These diminutive deer were introduced to the

UK in 1860. Originally from Japan, they have white-spotted coats in different colours. Their name is derived from the Japanese word for deer, shika.

Size/weight: About 100cm, up to 70kg. Where to see them: In forests or heathland across the whole of Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland and the north and south of England.

CHINESE WATER DEER

Of all our deer, the roundeared Chinese water deer is the least common.

They are the only UK deer to have sharp tusks instead of antlers. Wild herds became established after the species escaped from Whipsnade Zoo in 1929. Size/weight: About 55cm, around 18kg. Where to see them: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, near rivers and waterways.

MUNTJAC DEER

Britain’s smallest deer was brought from China in the early 20th century.

It has a chocolate brown coat with stripes down its face.

Its antlers grow in single points. These deer can be an unwelcome guest in gardens, due to their truly voracious appetite.

Size/weight: About 50cm, around 16kg. Where to see them: In forest with dense undergrowth and scrub land in south and central England and Wales. A small population can also be seen in the north of England/Scottish border area.