rehe

Rehe is the plural form of the German noun Reh, meaning roe deer. In English-language wildlife writing, the singular is roe deer, while Rehe appears in German texts to refer to multiple individuals.

Roe deer belong to the genus Capreolus. There are two living species: the European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygmaeus). They are native to Europe and Asia, favoring woodlands, forest edges, and scrubby habitats. They have a wide distribution and are not generally listed as endangered; populations fluctuate locally due to habitat conditions and hunting pressure.

Description and appearance: Roe deer are small among deer species. They have a compact body, short legs, and a short tail. Male roe deer grow small antlers that are shed and regrown annually. The coat is brown in summer and grayer in winter; fawns are born with white spots that fade during the first months of life.

Behavior and ecology: Roe deer are largely crepuscular or nocturnal, feeding on grasses, leaves, shoots, fruits, and bark. They typically live solitary or in small family groups, and males may defend a rough territorial area during the breeding season. Reproduction follows a late-summer rut; gestation lasts about six to seven months, with births usually in late spring to early summer. Most births are single fawns, though twins occur.

Human interactions: Roe deer are hunted as game and are managed in many regions to regulate populations and minimize crop and forestry damage. They also face threats from vehicle collisions and habitat fragmentation in some areas.