All you need to know about roe
Charles Smith-Jones trains his sights on an animal whose fortunes have fluctuated over the centuries Capreolus capreolus
To many, the roe is the most delightful of our deer. Small, graceful and immaculate in its foxy red summer coat, it has adapted to live not just in the deciduous woodland it prefers but habitats as varied as the open hill of the Highlands, the grass-covered downland of southern England and even the urban fringe. Today, with the exceptions of some parts of Wales and the Midlands and the southeastern tip of England, the chances are that in mainland Britain you will never be far from one.
Fall and rise
This has not always been the case and, over the past few centuries, the roe has experienced mixed fortunes. During the Middle Ages when the red stag was the most highly regarded beast of the chase, the roe ranked below the hare. By the 18th century, while it hung on in its Scottish strongholds, the roe was all but extinct in much of England and reintroductions were made with animals from north of the border or Europe.
Matters started to change radically about a century ago when World War I created a huge demand for timber, and the secondary growth that followed large-scale tree clearances created perfect roe habitat. The formation of the Forestry Commission in 1919 created yet more huge areas of new plantation that were quickly colonised.
Even more large-scale planting followed World War II, and the roe took full advantage. By the 1970s it was starting to reappear in the parts of central and southern England where it had long been absent. In Ireland it has never been present naturally, though there were short-lived introductions in
“Kids are born at a favourable time of year that enhances their chances of survival”
County Sligo, while other illegal, unlicensed ones are still rumoured today.
Gestation
One phenomenon that distinguishes the roe from all other deer is delayed implantation. The fertilised egg does not implant into the uterus wall immediately after mating. Instead, it floats free within the uterus for months before implantation takes place and the foetus starts to develop normally. Implantation of the fertilised egg does not occur until December or early January, with kids being born towards the end of May.
This is despite the fact that the rut normally takes place around late July or early August. Roe are the only deer to do this, though other animals including stoats, badgers, bears and skunks do the same.
It is believed that the roe developed the ability for delayed implantation at a point in their evolution when they were at an environmental disadvantage compared with larger deer species that produced bigger calves. Instead of evolving an increased body size, it seems that the device of delayed implantation was developed instead.
As a result, the roe can rut during the summer with several months of mild weather and good feeding ahead to allow the recovery of body condition before winter sets in. Kids are born at a favourable time of year with abundant food and a kind climate, and they have plenty of time to grow to a size and strength that enhances their survival chances for the coming winter.
Rarely, you might encounter a roe with tiny, vestigial canine teeth. Many of the deer species have canines, a remnant from a time when their ancestors resembled the more primitive muntjac or Chinese water deer and before antlers had really started to evolve. The roe is at an evolutionary stage when they have all but lost them, but examine your next buck or doe carefully and you may see them.
Aggression
Despite their delicate appearance and shyness, roe can be highly aggressive towards each other. As spring approaches and testosterone levels rise among the bucks, the desire to establish exclusive territories means that they become increasingly intolerant of each other. Fights between well-matched bucks are usually brief and the loser is quick to flee, but if he becomes trapped or stumbles his enraged rival will gore him savagely.
It is rare to see roe — especially bucks — in captivity. One that has lost its fear of man, perhaps after being hand-reared, can be unpredictable and capable of inflicting serious injury on an unwary handler. One bottle-reared buck in a wildlife park frequently attacked not only his keepers but also the does confined with him. The eventual solution was to saw off his antlers every May and cover the stumps with sections of rubber hose.