Details
Cervus nippon
Sika deer is an East Asian deer familiar in Japanese forests and grasslands. In some regions high densities affect forest regeneration, farming, and forestry.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It uses forests, edges, grassland, and farmland margins, shifting feeding areas seasonally. Main habitat types in this guide are forest, grassland.
Typical length 95-180 cm, weight 25 kg-110 kg. Summer coats show white spots, winter coats are darker, and males grow antlers.
It is most active around dawn and dusk and a herd-forming species. It forms herds, and rutting males call and compete around territories or females.
It is herbivorous. Grasses, leaves, bark, fruit, and crops may all be eaten.
Females usually bear one spotted fawn in early summer, and the fawn hides in cover.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. In some regions high densities affect forest regeneration, farming, and forestry.
