By Rachael Risby Raz | International Relations Manager
We are pleased to report that we had 10 successful births this past season in our deer herd, bringing their numbers up to 69!
This past week, the male deers have started the process of shedding their velvet.
Velvet is the soft fuzzy layer that covers male deer's antlers and serves as a protective layer for the hardening antlers underneath. It allows the antlers to reach their full potential so that they can be used by the male during rutting season.
During a five-month period, the velvet provides nourishment and protection to the hardening antlers beneath, helping them grow big and strong.
This shedding process is quite gory as the dense blood vessels burst and the velvet falls in red rags from the deer’s rack of antlers.
Despite the rut being months away, male deer start to prepare to face off against rivals for the affections of females early.
The velvet keeps the antlers safe during this time to ensure that they can reach their full potential. When velvet shedding happens, it is the signal that the rut is beginning.
(Source and learn more at: https://worlddeer.org/deer-velvet-shedding/)
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