Red deer are the largest land mammal in the United Kingdom. They are found throughout the Scottish Highlands in woodland and moorland habitats, although they have also been known to frequent grassland areas.
The Scottish red deer is a subspecies of red deer that is native to Great Britain. Ancient seafarers likely brought the deer over from distant regions. Then, sometime during the Stone Age, they were transported to the Scottish islands. Scottish red deer are farmed for their meat, antlers, and hides.
Recent estimates have suggested that up to 400,000 red deer are in Scotland. It is believed that Scotland possibly contains a total of nearly one million deer, including the roe, sika, and fallow species. The government agency Forestry and Land Scotland stated that the number of deer has doubled since 1990.
