The 200 acre (80ha) deer park surrounding
Raby Castle has Red deer, the largest British wild land mammal,
and the smaller Fallow deer
- both herds containing the desendants of deer preserved in this
area since Norman times.
Fascinating Creatures
 The
Red deer change their behaviour through the seasons as the male
(stag) and the female (hind) separate during the summer only to
rejoin for the mating season, or 'rut', in autumn.
It can also be seen how the deer change as they grow, loosing their
spots after six weeks, with the males growing antlers in their first
spring, which grow bigger each year until their fourth year when
they become an 'eight pointer' with four points on each antler.
 Black,
Mottled and Fallow Deer
The Black (actually dark grey in colour), Mottled (with white spots),
and White Fallow deer at Raby Park are all recognisable by their
clubbed, rather than pointy, antlers.
Please do not touch!
 From
May to July each year, roe kids, fallow fawns and red calves will
be born. It is vital that people do not pick them up, move, or even
touch them, as any human scent which remains on the young deer may
deter the mother from returning to feed her young. It is also very
important that you keep your dogs on short leads at this time of
year in areas which may be inhabited by deer. It is quite normal
for young deer to be left on their own for long periods of time
- THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABANDONED!
If you would like to know more about deer and their welfare, visit
the British Deer Society website at www.bds.org.uk.
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