Appearance

The sika deer varies in color from reddish-brown in the summer to dark brown or black in the winter. It has white spots on its back and a white rump. Males have narrow antlers and a dark, shaggy mane on the neck. Sika deer grow to about 2.5 feet tall at the rump. Males usually weigh about 90 pounds, while females usually weigh about 70 pounds.

Feeding

The sika deer feeds at night on plants, grasses, marsh vegetation and crops such as corn and soybeans.

Predators

No natural predators in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but humans hunt sika deer for their meat.

Voice

These deer communicate with one another using at least 10 different sounds. When alarmed, they emit a distinctive short, high-pitched “bark." Females use soft bleats and whistles to communicate with their young and other females. During breeding, males emit a long, multi-pitched wail.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Breeding occurs in autumn, beginning in late September. After about seven months (usually in May), the female gives birth to a single calf. Most sika deer breed in their second year, but about one-quarter breed in their first year.

Did You Know?

• Although they are called deer, sika deer are actually a member of the elk family. They are also called sika elk or Asian elk.
• Males are called “stags” and females are called “hinds” or “cows."
• They were first introduced in the Chesapeake Bay watershed on James Island in Dorchester County, Maryland, in 1916.
• Previous studies have suggested that although they are an exotic species, sika deer are not considered invasive because they do not directly compete with native wildlife for food and habitat. Recent research, however, has suggested that the increasing number and expanding range of sika deer may be of growing concern for the success of native white-tailed deer populations.

Sources and Additional Information

• Sika: Maryland’s Exotic Little Elk – Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Sika Deer – Assateague Island National Seashore
• Species Information: Sika Deer – ARKive