MAMMALS

RED DEER

Bedfords Park contains Red Deer, a species you won't find in Hainault Forest. Red Deer are Britain's largest native land mammal. They were introduced to Bedford's Park in the 1930s when the park opened up to the public. They are kept in an enclosure, unlike Fallow and Muntjac that can be found roaming free. Calves are born in May and June. They are brown with white spots. Hinds often hide their calves in the long grass.

When a stag is about 5 years old it is considered to be in its prime and his antlers will be well developed. A young stag's antlers are just small spikes, but by two years the antlers begin to develop branches.

Stags renew their antlers every year. Points known as 'tines' are added every time a new set of antlers is grown. A full set of 12 or more tines is known as a 'royal'. When the new antlers are growing they are covered in velvet which assists bone growth. Stags remove the velvet when the antlers are fully grown by rubbing them against trees, The rutting season occurs during autumn, this is the time when stags establish their dominance and protect their harem. They clash head to head with other stags and make deep bellowing noises. During the Rut, a stag will often wallow in mud to spread his scent all over his body,

Choose from the menu to learn more about the amazing world of wildlife in Hainault Forest...

• Badgers
• Bats
• Fallow Deer
• Foxes
• Hedgehogs
• Mice
• Moles
• Muntjac Deer
• Rabbits
• Rats
• Red Deer (Bedfords Park)
• Shrews
• Squirrels
• Weasels and Stoats