Video recorded by Fleur, LK forum
English translation Liis
Estonian text posted 31.08.2018
Roe deer Metskits or kaber Capreolus capreolus
The roe deer fawns were born about three months ago, so they are about the same age as the chicks of the greater spotted eagles and the ospreys that have grown up to juveniles in our web camera view.
The roe deer pair in the video spent the time in summer as a family or separately. In July the roe deer had their mating period and at that time the fawn had to manage on its own but the female is in heat only a few days and after that they moved together as before.
The suckling period still lasts about one month longer; the roe fawns however already cope quite well and know the plants that they can feed on in their summer habitat of mixed forests. Likewise they know the inhabitants and the dangers in the local forest.
Our roe deer have done well in recent years and the population has become quite numerous. In autumn they move into the less dense conifer forests where the flock living of the winter period starts. In the shrub layer of the conifers there is enough food from the bare blueberry twigs and the cowberry leaves and stems.
We will talk about the visits to growing grain fields and damages to young forest trees when that becomes relevant.