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What the sources say

Red DeerCervus elaphus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Red Deer profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 46 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

The Royal Parks 2023

Stay away from rutting deer, Royal Parks urges visitors. The Royal Parks, 2023.

The page saysdangerLevel: High
The source saysvisitors need to be extremely vigilant, otherwise they could risk severe injuryNote: #1046; capability reading as for the elk (#998). Richmond and Bushy Park rutting deer, 20 September 2023; the release names no species, and the stags it describes 'can weigh over 25 stone'

Source
02

British Deer Society

Red deer. British Deer Society.

The page saysthe UK's largest land mammal
The source saysThe red deer is Britain’s largest land mammal.
The page saysA stag, as males are called, weighs 90 to 190 kg and stands 1.07 to 1.37 m tall at the shoulder.
The source saysfully grown males (stags) weigh between 90 to 190kg and stand at around 1.07 to 1.37m tall at the shoulder.
The page saysA hind, the female, weighs 63 to 120 kg.
The source saysFemales (hinds) weigh 63 to 120kg
The page saysThe species ranges across most of Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor and Iran, and into the Atlas Mountains of north-west Africa.
The source saysRed deer inhabit most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. They also inhabit the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa.Note: task #1102: "central Asia" cut; the 2025 assessment (Mattioli et al.) follows a split and its page cannot be read by script, so the range names only what every source agrees on
The page saysIn England and southern Scotland it prefers woodland, but it can adapt to open moor and hills.
The source saysWhile preferring woodland and forest habitats in England and southern Scotland, red deer can adapt to open moor and hills
The page saysFrom late September to November comes the rut, the mating season.
The source saysThe breeding season, or the rut, occurs from the end of September to November.
The page saysStags roar and walk side by side to show dominance.
The source saysengaging in elaborate displays of dominance including roaring, parallel walks, and fighting.
The page saysSerious injury and death can result from fighting, but this only occurs between stags of similar size that cannot assess dominance by any of the other means.
The source saysSerious injury and death can result from fighting but this only occurs between stags of similar size that cannot assess dominance by any of the other means.
The page saysThey bark when alarmed and moo when searching for their young.
The source saysHinds bark when alarmed and moo when searching for their young.
The page saysAfter an eight-month pregnancy, a hind in woodland gives birth to a single calf between mid-May and mid-July.
The source saysIn woodland populations, hinds over one year old give birth to a single calf after an eight-month gestation, between mid-May to mid-July.
The page saysCave art in Europe shows them.
The source saysRed deer are widely depicted in cave art found throughout European cavesNote: task #1102: the 40,000-year date rested on a deer society page, not an archaeological source, and was cut
The page saysa stag of up to 190 kg that regrows its antlers each year and roars through the autumn rut
The source saysfully grown males (stags) weigh between 90 to 190kg
The page saysDeer on open upland ground tend to be smaller than deer in lowland woods.
The source saysDeer living in open upland habitats tend to be smaller than those living in more wooded lowland areas.
The page saysHe drops them each year in March or April. By August or September a full new set has grown back.
The source saysAntlers are cast during March/April and begin to regrow to be fully formed and clear of velvet in August/September.
The page saysA fully grown male tips the scales at 90 to 190 kg, with a shoulder height of around 1.07 to 1.37 m
The source saysfully grown males (stags) weigh between 90 to 190kg and stand at around 1.07 to 1.37m tall at the shoulder.
The page saysfemales come in at 63 to 120 kg
The source saysFemales (hinds) weigh 63 to 120kg
The page saysWoodland, open moor and hills across Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Iran, plus the Atlas Mountains of north-west Africa
The source saysRed deer inhabit most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. They also inhabit the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa.Note: task #1102: "central Asia" cut; the 2025 assessment (Mattioli et al.) follows a split and its page cannot be read by script, so the range names only what every source agrees on
The page saysRed deer are old neighbours of people.
The source saysThey were used extensively by Mesolithic man as a source of food, skins, and tools (bones and antlers).
The page saysIn rich woodland, stags can be sexually mature before they turn two, but only stags over five years old tend to mate.
The source saysDespite being sexually mature before their second birthday in productive woodland populations, only stags over five years old tend to mate.
The page saysstags roar and walk side by side to assess dominance
The source sayselaborate displays of dominance including roaring, parallel walks, and fighting
The page saysfighting only occurs between stags of similar size that cannot settle it any other way
The source saysthis only occurs between stags of similar size that cannot assess dominance by any of the other means

Source
03

Woodland Trust

Red deer. Woodland Trust.

The page saysRed deer in woods are bigger than deer in open country, because the food in woods is better.
The source saysDeer in woodland are bigger than those in more open habitats because of the higher quality of food available.
The page saysA stag's antlers start with just two points and add branches as he ages, up to 16 in most cases.
The source saysStarting with just two points, the antlers steadily develop more branches, reaching up to 16 in most cases.
The page saysthey lock antlers and push and twist until the weaker one flees
The source saysthe two will fight, locking antlers and pushing and twisting until the weaker of the two flees.
The page saysGrass is the main food, along with sedges, rushes, herbs, shrubs and tree shoots.
The source saysGrasses are the primary food of red deer, but they will eat a range of plants, including tree shoots, sedges and rushes, herbs and shrubs.
The page saysAdults in Britain have no natural predators. Foxes and golden eagles may take young calves
The source saysPredators: adults no longer have natural predators; foxes and golden eagles may take young
The page sayswhich are born with a spotted coat as camouflage
The source saysCalves are born with a spotted coat to provide camouflage from predators.
The page saysStags roar during the autumn rut to compete with other males.
The source saysRed deer stags roar during the rut to compete with other males.
The page saysThey also thrash vegetation to scare off rivals
The source saysStags will roar loudly and thrash vegetation to intimidate rivals.
The page saysStags carry antlers, and hinds do not.
The source saysFemales (hinds) lack antlers and are more lightly built than males.
The page saysregrows its antlers each year
The source saysThese antlers are shed and regrown every year.
The page saysA newborn calf's spotted coat is camouflage, and for its first few months it is left hidden in vegetation.
The source saysCalves are born with a spotted coat to provide camouflage from predators. For the first few months of their life, they are left hidden in vegetation
The page saysIf a rival is not put off, the pair fight with antlers locked until the weaker stag runs.
The source saysIf another stag is undeterred, the two will fight, locking antlers and pushing and twisting until the weaker of the two flees.
The page saysWhen two evenly matched stags will not give way, they lock antlers and push and twist until the weaker one flees.
The source saysIf another stag is undeterred, the two will fight, locking antlers and pushing and twisting until the weaker of the two flees.
The page saysgrown red deer there no longer have natural predators
The source saysadults no longer have natural predators
The page saysThe risk falls on the young, which foxes and golden eagles may take.
The source saysfoxes and golden eagles may take young
The page saysGrasses, sedges, rushes, tree shoots, herbs and shrubs
The source saysGrasses are the primary food of red deer, but they will eat a range of plants, including tree shoots, sedges and rushes, herbs and shrubs.
The page saysStags that roar through the autumn rut
The source saysRed deer stags roar during the rut to compete with other males.
The page saysregrow a full set of antlers each year
The source saysThese antlers are shed and regrown every year.

Source
04

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Cervus elaphus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysWild red deer average 10 to 11 years, and captive ones live about as long.
The source saysAverage lifespan in captivity is similar to what is observed in wild populations (10-11 years)
The page saysOne captive animal reached about 31.5 years.
The source saysOne captive specimen was about 31.5 years of age when it died
The page saysIn wild populations the average is 10 to 11 years, and captive deer average about the same.
The source saysAverage lifespan in captivity is similar to what is observed in wild populations (10-11 years)
The page saysone captive deer that was about 31.5 years old when it died
The source saysOne captive specimen was about 31.5 years of age when it died

Source
05

Mattioli 2025

Mattioli (2025). Cervus elaphus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T55997072A211074984.

The page saysThe IUCN rates the species Least Concern.
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).
The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.