Reproduction

How does the sika deer produce its young?

During the rutting (breeding) season the male will use his horns to fight other males. This allows them to gain access to a group of up to 14 females.

Breeding occurs in autumn beginning in September.

Females will give birth to a single calf after a 7 month gestation period. On rare occasions they may give birth to twins.

Mothers will provide milk to their calf for the first 10 months of life. The young may stay with their mother for up to a year.

Sexual maturity may be reached at 1 year old but is more commonly achieved by two years old.

This species has been recorded to reproduce with red deer to produce a hybrid.

Behavior

What does the sika deer do with its day?

These animals are highly vocal. They will produce up to ten different sounds which may include a soft whistle or a scream.

They are active by night when they will emerge to feed. In winter they may become increasingly active by day due to the need to feed.

Sika deer move around in herds of females and their young. Males are brought in to these herds during the breeding season.

Across their range they undergo two molts. One takes place at the start of winter and the other at the start of summer. The winter molt takes 2-4 weeks while the summer takes 3 months. The eldest deer tend to molt first.

They are successful swimmers and will enter the water to escape predators.

Credit: Public Domain

Predators and Threats

What is impacting the survival of the sika deer?

Natural predators of the sika deer include tigers and wolves.

If threatened their natural reaction is to attempt to flee. If this is not successful they can use their horns and strong kick for defense.

No formal estimated of the population has been made. Their number is thought to be increasing across their natural range due to conservation efforts such as their reintroduction to parts of their former range. They also benefit from large introduced populations globally.

Across their range they continue to face threats such as habitat loss and hunting. Hunting takes place for sport, meat and their antler velvet which is also used in traditional medicine.

The fragmentation of their population has increased fears that their populations will become inbred.

Releases of red deer from farms in their range has led to the creation of hybrids risking the genetic purity of the species.

Competition with introduced species such as goats is another threat.

In introduced areas of their range they are often viewed as a pest they will destroy crops.

Quick facts

These animals are also known as the spotted deer, Japanese deer, sika elk or Asian elk.

The male sika deer is known as a stag and the female as a cow.

In Japan this species has long considered sacred.