The Living Forest (210) : Red Deer

The Living Forest (210) : Red Deer

“The King of the Forest” shows his tough looks just before sunset.

It’s early autumn, in the forest the mating ritual of the Red Deer, called the rut, has begun again.

Mature stags (males) compete for the attentions of the hinds (females) with their roar call but also with posturing and antler fights to establish dominance.

In order to impress the ladies, the stag regularly strikes with his antlers against bushes and small trees and rubs his antlers through grasses.
Sometimes a piece of grass or heath remains sticking to the antlers what he interpretes as an extra macho decoration.

(it’s the same animal as in my previous shot – see picture below)

Dutch name : Edelhert
German name : Rothirsch
Latin name : Cervus elaphus

Location : Hertogenwald at Eupen (Belgium)