Roe Deer

[tenrec]

I saw a roe deer today with its little antlers. It looked as though it was "in velvet". Is this the right time of year for it?

[tenrec]

Any ideas?

[chaptazbru]

tenrec I've looked on Google and from what I can make out, they don't shed till about April. Hope this helps !

[ladybirder]

Trouble is there isn't a right time of year anymore what with the weather all over the place. Poor critters don't know where they are:-(

[chaptazbru]

I agree with that ladybirder. I always feel sorry for the birds during an early warm spell when they start to nest and then it inevitably goes cold again, and during the last couple of days I've seen bumbles bees, but there are no flowers for them to pollinate yet. The seasons are all over the place these days.

[tenrec]

Thank you for all your answers and comments. My eyesight isn't great so wasn't quite sure that I saw the velvet, but that's what it looked like.

[shoota]

Yes, this is the time of year when Roe are in velvet, they will still be developing the hard antler that will be revealed in about April, or shortly after, when they scrape off the velvet against a tree or whatever. The velvet carries the blood supply that annables the new antlers to grow.
Checkout the British Deer Society website for lots of deer info.