Rehwild

Question 1

What is the breeding season (Blattzeit) for roe deer (Rehwild)?

Answer 1

Mid July – mid August (begins with very warm weather)

Question 2

What is the total gestation period for roe deer?

Answer 2

40-42 weeks; embryo development is dormant until December

Question 3

In which months are roe deer fawns (Kitz) born?

Answer 3

May/June (usually one or two, sometimes three)

Question 4

How many teeth does an adult roe deer have?

Answer 4

32

Question 5

What are the names for male roe deer?

Answer 5

Bock, Rehbock, Sechser, Gabler, Speißer, Knopf bock

Question 6

What are the names for female roe deer?

Answer 6

Geiss, Ricke

Question 7

What is a yearling female roe deer called?

Answer 7

Schmalreh

Question 8

What is a young female roe deer (fawn) called?

Answer 8

Kitz (or Geisskitz / Rickenkitz)

Question 9

What is a young male roe deer (fawn) called?

Answer 9

Bockkitz

Question 10

What is a herd/group of roe deer called?

Answer 10

Sprung

Question 11

What is the shoulder height and weight of an adult male roe deer (gutted)?

Answer 11

~26-30 inches shoulder height; ~30-45 lbs (females slightly smaller)

Question 12

How does roe deer coat color change by season?

Answer 12

May–October: bright reddish-brown; October–May: grayish-brown with longer hair

Question 13

What is the white spot on the snout called and how does it change with age?

Answer 13

Muffelfleck; increases in size with age (old animals have ice-gray face)

Question 14

What is the white rump patch (Spiegel) and its shape difference by sex (Reh)?

Answer 14

Kidney-shaped on males; heart-shaped on females

Question 15

When do the white spots on newborn fawns disappear?

Answer 15

After 6 months (with first winter coat)

Question 16

What alarm call do roe deer (both sexes) make?

Answer 16

Bark (very much like a dog)

Question 17

What high whistle sound (fiepen) do Geiss and Kitz make?

Answer 17

To attract bucks during Blattzeit or to make Kitz follow (Kitz also use when in danger)

Question 18

How developed are roe deer senses?

Answer 18

Hear and smell very well; sight not well developed (cannot distinguish colors but notice movement quickly)

Question 19

Where are the scent glands located on roe deer?

Answer 19

Between hooves and on rear legs shortly below ankle (communication); bucks also have glands at forehead below antlers (territory marking)

Question 20

When do Rehbock shed their antlers each year?

Answer 20

Every year in fall

Question 21

What covers growing antlers and what happens in spring (Reh)?

Answer 21

Velvet-like skin (Bast); blood vessels transport minerals; antlers harden and buck rubs velvet off (fegen)

Question 22

What antler forms can almost 1-year-old (yearling) Rehbock grow?

Answer 22

Spikes (Spiesser), four-point forks (Gabler), or sometimes already six points (Sechser)

Question 23

At what age do roe bucks reach peak antler development?

Answer 23

5 to 6 years

Question 24

What can cause antlers with more than six points or unusual growth (Reh)?

Answer 24

Injuries during velvet rubbing, car accidents, or injuries to the testicles (Perückenbock = big soft velvet-like proliferation)

Question 25

How do adult female roe deer behave socially with offspring?

Answer 25

Remain nearby to their offspring (1 or 2) for an entire year until next birth; small family groups common; larger herds (4-6+) form in winter areas

Question 26

How do mature Rehbock behave in early spring regarding territories?

Answer 26

Become very aggressive; each occupies an exclusive territory throughout the mating period (August) and defends it against rivals

Question 27

How do Rehbock mark territory borders?

Answer 27

Scraping the earth with forelegs and rubbing forehead against small trees/branches (leaving gland secretion/scent)

Question 28

Does herding occur during the roe deer rut (Blattzeit)?

Answer 28

No; a female is driven by the buck for hours (behavior seems aggressive but female governs); buck stays 2-3 days with one female (in heat only one day)

Question 29

Why does roe deer gestation appear unusually long (10 months) for their small size?

Answer 29

Delayed implantation: fertilized eggs rest in uterus until late December; embryo development then begins (allows mating and growth in favorable seasons)

Question 30

What is the main goal of modern roe deer management in many European countries?

Answer 30

Keep population density low to support natural re-growth of mixed forests rich in deciduous trees and white pine (selective shooting and winter feeding largely abandoned)

Question 31

What is the ideal habitat for roe deer?

Answer 31

Forest interspersed with meadows/fields for shelter and food; Forest Roe (most common) enjoy small forests; Field Roe enjoy open fields

Question 32

Of all wild cloven-hoofed game in Eurasia, how common is the roe deer?

Answer 32

Most numerous and most widespread species (from Mediterranean to Scandinavia, British Isles to Urals; absent only in Ireland, present in Turkey; inhabits nearly all habitats including villages/cities)

Question 33

What does “/////” mean in the German hunting calendar?

Answer 33

No Hunting!!!