RED DEER

The Red Deer in Somiedo

The red deer or stag (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) is the largest wild ungulate in Somiedo Natural Park and one of the most spectacular animals of the Cantabrian Mountains. Its majestic bearing, the impressive antlers of adult males and the dramatic spectacle of the autumn rut make the red deer one of the most sought-after animals by park visitors. Deer populations in Somiedo are abundant and spread throughout the park, from the riparian woodlands of the valleys to the beech forests and high-altitude grasslands.

Characteristics of the Red Deer

The red deer is a slender yet muscular animal with an upright, elegant bearing. Sexual dimorphism is very pronounced: males (stags) are considerably larger than females (hinds) and are the only ones to grow the characteristic antlers, which they shed and regrow each year between spring and summer. The coat is reddish- brown in summer and greyish-brown in winter, with a cream-coloured patch on the rump. Fawns are born with white spots that disappear by the end of the first summer.

• Length: 1.6 to 2.5 metres from nose to tail
• Shoulder height: 1.2 to 1.5 metres
• Weight: stags 150–250 kg, hinds 80–120 kg
• Longevity: up to 20 years, average 10–12 years

Habitat in Somiedo

The red deer is an adaptable species that uses a wide variety of habitats within Somiedo Natural Park. In summer it frequents high-altitude grasslands and mid-elevation beech forests, where cool temperatures and abundant grass allow it to feed undisturbed. In winter it descends to the lower, more sheltered areas, where mixed oak and chestnut woodlands provide refuge and food. Adult stags tend to be more solitary and occupy higher, more remote territories, while hinds with calves form matriarchal groups that use more stable areas throughout the year.

Behaviour and Social Organisation

Outside the rut, red deer are gregarious but form sex-segregated groups. Hinds and young animals organise into matriarchal herds of between 3 and 20 individuals, led by an experienced female who knows the territory and its resources. Adult stags are more solitary or form small bachelor groups between ruts. Red deer are most active at dawn and dusk, resting in sheltered enclosures during the central hours of the day. The species is markedly erratic and rarely stays more than a day in the same resting spot.

The Rut: The Great Autumn Spectacle

The rut — the red deer's mating season — is one of the most impressive natural spectacles to be witnessed in Somiedo Natural Park. It takes place between mid-September and late October, when adult stags emit their powerful roars to attract hinds and warn rivals. During the rut, stags almost completely abandon feeding and devote all their energy to defending a harem of hinds, engaging in direct confrontations — clashing antlers — with competing males. The physical effort is so extreme that stags can lose up to 20% of their body weight in a matter of weeks. The deep, guttural roar of rutting stags echoes across the valleys of Somiedo on autumn nights and can be heard several kilometres away.

Diet

The red deer is a grazing and browsing herbivore. Its diet varies with the seasons: in spring and summer it feeds mainly on grasses and sedges in mountain meadows; in autumn and winter it incorporates acorns, chestnuts, heather, lichens and the bark of young trees, which can cause damage to forest plantations. To compensate for mineral deficiencies in the diet, deer visit mineral licks — areas with mineral-rich soils — which can be identified by concentrations of tracks and disturbed ground.

Signs of Red Deer Presence

• Tracks: two hoofprints of 6–7 × 8 cm in the stag and 4–5 × 6 cm in the hind. The front hoof print is more open than the hind. The hind's print is more pointed than the stag's.
• Droppings: cylindrical and slightly elongated (2–3 cm), dark and tapering at one end. In autumn, with an acorn-rich diet, they become pasty and may appear grouped.
• Resting places: areas of flattened grass inside woodland. Hairs can be found — longer and more brittle than those of roe deer.
• Shed antlers: in spring (February–April), stags cast their antlers. Shed antlers can be found in grazing meadows, paths and water sources, where the antler drops as the deer lowers its head to drink or jumps a stream.
• Fraying: marks on shrubs and young trees where stags rub their antlers to remove velvet or mark territory.

Where and When to See Red Deer in Somiedo?

Red deer can be spotted in Somiedo throughout the year, but the best moments are at dawn and dusk, when the animals come out to graze in open areas. The most spectacular period is undoubtedly the autumn rut (mid-September to late October): on those days the roaring of stags is heard at dawn throughout the park, and it is possible to observe them in meadows and forest clearings from the viewpoints and paths of the park. The Valle del Lago, the surroundings of Pola de Somiedo and the pastures around the Puerto de Somiedo are some of the best observation points.