Sika deer stand out because of their dark coats, white spots, and shaggy manes. In the UK, they have significantly increased in number since 1860.
They are a beautiful breed that has caught the eye of many nature lovers and outdoor fans. But what do we really know about them?
In this article, we will explore their world, from where they live to how they reproduce and the efforts to save them.
Introduction to Sika Deer
Sika deer are also known as spotted deer. They are small to medium-sized and belong to the cervid family. They have a head and body length of about 950–1,800 mm. Their tail is 75–130 mm long, and they stand 640–1090 mm tall at the shoulder.
Among the sika deer, there are clear differences between males and females. Males are, on average, 8.7% bigger than females.
Sika deer originally lived in East Asia. Their home includes the southern Ussuri district of eastern Siberia, China, Formosa, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Taiwan, and parts of Vietnam. But, they have been introduced to many other places around the world.
Now, they live in countries like Australia, Austria, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Jolo Island (south of the Philippines), New Zealand, Poland, Scotland, and some states in the United States. These places include Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
Habitat Preferences
Sika deer tend to prefer specific habitats that meet their needs, that is why marshes and thickly forested wetlands are perfect for them.
To them, these areas offer the needed food and shelter to cater for their survival.
Sika deer also live at different heights, from sea level up to 1800 meters (5,900 feet). If there are mountains around where they live, they will move up and down the mountain.
This behavior also depends on the season. In winter, they would exhibit this behavior because of the snow their breeding cycles.
Let me leave you with these few pointers:
- Sika deer love living in marshes and thickly forested wetlands for food and shelter.
- They are largely grouped in southern Dorchester County, Maryland.
- Hinds stay in about 1 square mile, but stags have bigger areas, especially during mating season.
- They live from sea level to 1800 meters (5,900 feet) high.
- They move up and down mountains by up to 700 meters (2,300 feet) with the seasons.
Sika Deer Diet
Sika deer mainly eat marsh plants, grasses, and crops like corn and soybeans. They also enjoy bayberry, catbrier, and poison ivy.
These deer primarily feed and are most active at dusk and dawn. They use the low light to eat in freshwater marshes, grasslands, and farmlands.
Let’s look at the different types of Sika deer diet in detail:
- Marsh vegetation
Marshes generally offer a diverse diet consisting of aquatic vegetation and grasses, which are important for their nutrition. Firstly, marshes provide abundant food resources such as marsh grasses and leafy vegetation, which are part of their herbivorous diet.
Also, marshes have dense vegetation, which can keep deer safe from predators. It seems like a win for them; they get to eat without being bothered about predators.
Marshes provide a relatively stable microclimate that protects sika deer from extreme weather conditions. The wet environment also helps to reduce parasites, and the water available in these areas is also essential for their survival.
- Grasses
Primarily, sika deer consume grasses because they are herbivores, and grasses form a significant portion of their diet.
That aside, however, grasses are key to the diet of Sika deer because they are rich in essential nutrients and support their overall health and energy needs.
Additionally, the structure and availability of grasses in their habitats, such as marshes and forested wetlands, align well with the sika deer’s grazing behavior.
- Agricultural crops
Agricultural crops are often rich in proteins and carbohydrates, which are essential for the growth, reproduction, and overall health of deer.
Crops like soybean and corn, in particular, provide high nutritional value. Corn provides around 365 calories per 100 grams, with significant amounts of carbohydrates (about 74 grams) and moderate protein (around 9 grams).
Soybeans, on the other hand, contain approximately 446 calories per 100 grams, with about 36 grams of protein and 20 grams of fat. This nutritional combination make these two rich crops a great source of nutrients for deer.
Additionally, in areas where agricultural fields are abundant, these crops may be more readily available and accessible compared to natural forage, which is good for deer.
- Special Diet Plants
Although sika deer have a varied diet, they prefer some plants above others. These include; bayberry, catbrier, and poison ivy.
If bayberry, catbrier, and poison ivy are abundant in their environment, they are likely to consume these plants more frequently.
Bayberry is highly rich in fatty acids, which can be beneficial for deer energy levels. Taste and Palatability: Deer are selective feeders, and they are likely to prefer plants that have a taste and texture they enjoy. The specific taste profiles of these plants may appeal to sika deer.
While some plants, such as poison ivy, may be considered undesirable by humans due to their irritating properties, sika deer find them palatable. Catbrier also often grows in thickets and can provide shelter as well as food; this, like marshes, makes it an attractive choice for sika deer.
Reproduction and Behavior
Sika deer have complex social lives and unique behaviors. These traits are key to their survival and reproduction. They usually become ready to breed at about 16 months old.
Their breeding season starts in late September and lasts for about 30 weeks. Most calves are born in May, weighing between 4.5 and 7.0 kg. During mating, male Sika deer, or stags, protect a group of females, or hinds, by using sounds such as bugling to defend them.
Vocalizations
Sika deer make many sounds, like bugling, bleats, and barks. These sounds are used when talking to each other. The male’s bugling call is especially striking during mating season.
Anatomy and Physical Adaptations
Having evolved to live well in their environments, Sika deer stand out with their unique look. They have a thick winter coat, up to 50–70 mm long, that keeps them warm during cold seasons. In summer, they have a finer, shorter coat to stay cool.
Their antlers are another key feature. Male Sika deer, or stags, have long, straight antlers. These can be 300–660 mm long with 2–5 tines. These antlers show their strength and help in fights during mating season.
In this species of deer, there’s a big difference between male and female Sika deer. Males are about 8.7% bigger than females. This size difference is common in many deer species.
In summary, the anatomy of Sika deer can be said to be:
- Sika deer have a dense, insulating winter coat with hairs up to 70 mm long.
- Their summer coat is much finer, straighter, and shorter (around 30 mm).
- Male Sika deer possess narrow, erect antlers that are 300–660 mm in length and have 2–5 tines.
- Sika deer exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with males being 8.7% larger than females on average.
Conservation and Management
The Sika deer is a beloved game species on the Eastern Shore. For Hunters, especially those in the Eastern Shore, sika deer is a beloved game. China has the biggest native sika deer population,even this, is now less than a thousand.
This is why it is important to consider the conservation and management of Sika deer for the future. To keep the ecosystem balanced, hunting should be done in a controlled way.
The following management strategies may be useful in maintaining a safe ecological system for both deer and humans:
- Culling: This is the selective way of hunting deer (or wild animals), is employed as a tool in wildlife conservation to control population spread and diseases.
- Controlled hunting: This is the practice of hunting that is governed by specific rules and regulations to ensure ecological balanceand conservation of ecosystems.
The Sika deer are a captivating species found all over the world. Despite being found in many places, the Sika deer is considered “Least Concern” by the IUCN. This means their numbers are stable.
But, they face issues with genetic pollution and hybridization with other deer, like the red deer. These problems can threaten the Sika deer and their natural habitats.
It is important to support conservation measures for sika deer. By doing so, we can ensure that future generations continue to appreciate their role in our natural world.
