Wolf Trust Wolf Prey - Ungulates - Deer In Britain - Evading Wolves - Red & Roe Deer Summary There is an ample supply of red deer and roe deer in the Highlands, the wolves' main prey. Web Address www.wolftrust.org.uk Email Address Wolf Trust

Deer In Britain Deer are ungulates and the main prey of wolves in the Scottish Highlands.     Biggest wolf prey in Britain - a red deer (Cervus elaphas) - called an elk or wapiti in North America. Courtesy Gerald & Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences. CalPhoto. The Six Species Of Deer In Britain Red deer Cervus elaphus Roe deer Capreolus capreolus Sika deer Cervus nippon Fallow deer Dama dama Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi Chinese water deer Hydropotes inermis Only red and roe deer are native to Britain. The other species do not occur here naturally, being introduced to Britain by man. Number Of Deer Based on Harris et al (1995).   Britain Scotland England Red deer 360,000 350,000 10,000 Roe deer 500,000 350,000 150,000 Sika deer 12,000 9,000 3,000 Fallow deer 100,000 95,000 5,000 Muntjac 40,000 0 40,000 Chinese water deer 1,000 0 1,000 The table shows that red deer and roe deer each exceed a quarter million head in Scotland. Scotland is awash with the wolf's natural prey, which is a reason for reintroducing wolves there and not in England. Relatively few deer live in England. Fewer than 1,000 deer of each species and no Chinese water deer live in Wales. Distribution Of Deer For the distribution of red deer and roe deer, see Red Deer & Roe Deer References Harris S, Morris P, Wray S & Yalden D (1995): A review of British mammals. JNCC, Peterborough. 168p. Page revised 2.03

Figures in the table are rough estimates as numbers of deer vary annually and counting is largely guess work. Figures are rounded.