Red Deer or Sika Deer?

[Steven Gourlay]

Red Deer or Sika Deer, i thought at first red deer untill i seen the antlers on the second photo.

We spotted these over the wall by the side of the road on the west coast of Mull.

[Steven Gourlay]

Someone must know, any takers?

[RuthG]

They look like sika to me, but Im no expert. There's something not right about the first group for them to be reds. I admit however, while I am familiar with reds, I am not at all familiar with sikas.

[Steven Gourlay]

Cheers Ruth i was thinking the same, im used to see Reds and as you said there is somthing not just right.

Thanks for posting.

[Steven Gourlay]

I think it could the narrow heads in the first pick.

[RuthG]

I agree - it's certainly something about their heads. But as you said, the antlers on the second pic would be something of a giveaway anyway. Never seen a red with horns like that!

[Steven Gourlay]

Yeah the second is a give away just wanted to see what people thought about the first pic.

[rockbasher]

the antlers in the second pic could be a red stag in its second year,1st antler development year?

[Steven Gourlay]

Im not 100% mate i thought at first the females looked like Red then looking again their heads look a bit different.

[rockbasher]

have you thought of the possibility of them hybrids as the two species do interbreed