Muntjac deer facts
Height
45–52 cm at the shoulder
Weight
10–17 kg
Lifespan
About 10–13 years in the wild
Diet
Shoots, herbs, bramble and acorns
Young born
Any time of year, one fawn
Status
Invasive non-native; about 52,000 in Britain
How to recognise a muntjac
Muntjac are small and hunched, with the rump higher than the shoulders. Look for dark stripes on the face, which make a V on bucks and a diamond on does, and large scent glands just in front of the eyes. Bucks have short, backward-pointing antlers and two small tusks. When alarmed, a muntjac raises its tail to flash a white underside. Roe deer and fallow deer are much bigger.
Where do muntjac live?
In dense woodland with thick undergrowth, and also in hedgerows, gardens and along railway banks. Muntjac come from south-east China. They were brought to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire over a century ago, and releases and escapes let them spread. They are now widespread in southern and eastern England, with far fewer further north.
What do muntjac eat?
They browse shrubs, herbs and garden plants, with bramble and raspberry among their favourites. They also eat acorns, sweet chestnuts and berries.
Do muntjac have a breeding season?
No. Unlike other British deer, muntjac have no rut and breed all year round. After about seven months, the doe has a single fawn, and she can become pregnant again soon after giving birth.
Signs to look for
- Slots: tiny hoof prints about 2.5–3 cm long, the smallest of any British deer
- Droppings: the smallest of any deer
- Barking: a loud, fox-like bark, often repeated for a long time
- Browsing: nibbled bramble, bluebells and primroses
Its link to the badger
Muntjac and badgers share the same broadleaved woods, and both eat acorns in autumn. Muntjac browse woodland undergrowth and wildflowers so heavily that they have been linked to declines in birds such as nightingales, changing the woods that badgers and other wildlife live in.
How you can help
- Drive carefully near woods at dawn and dusk. Many muntjac are killed on roads.
- Protect garden plants with strong wire fencing dug into the ground.
- Record sightings with the Mammal Society's Mammal Mapper app.
- For an injured deer, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999.