Kronhjort

Did you know that a crown calf is completely free of odor when it is born? This provides a smart defense against hungry predators that can't find the calf due to the lack of smell.

RED DEER

Family: Deer family  

Weight: Up to 200 kg

Lifestyle: Pack animal. A herd of red deer is called a "Rudel"

Diet: Herbivore, primarily grass and herbs 

The red deer is Denmark's largest wild deer. The deer, i.e. the male, can weigh up to 200 kg and his impressive antlers can weigh up to 10 kg! 

The females are called hinds and even though they do not grow quite as big and have no antlers, they are the ones who decide in the herd. The lead hind is always an older, experienced hind. The hinds live their entire lives in the rut, whereas the deer keep to themselves outside the rut season.

The heat period 

The deer spend the rut season, from late August to late October, fighting for the favor of the hinds. In addition to impressing with antlers and in battle, the old, dominant deer also use another technique. They try to "smell nice". In certain mud holes, the deer roll in a mixture of mud and urine. 

In September, you may be lucky enough to hear the roar of the red deer in the western end of Rold Skov in the evening. Remember that this part of the forest is private.

Big but shy

Although the red deer are large and walk in packs, they are very shy. There are many red deer in Rold Skov, but not many people have met them. They can smell when people come and hurry away. 

One of the places where you have a good chance of seeing the red deer is at Tveden – an open area in the middle of Rold Forest. Especially around dusk, you can often see a rudel grazing peacefully. Remember to respect the nature of the animals and let them roam undisturbed, without trying to get close.