SIKA DEER: CHARACTERISTICS, BEHAVIOR, SUBSPECIES

SIKA DEER

male sika deer

Sika deer (Cervus nippon) are a forest deer found in East Asia from Siberia south through China to Vietnam and Taiwan. These deer are divided into 14 regional subspecies, of which seven are found in Japan. The largest is the ezo-jika, which lives in Hokkaido. Honshu and Kyushu-Shikoku have their own subspecies.

Sika deer have been kept in parks and farmed for centuries and have been introduced to many regions. It is one meter to 1.5 meter (3.3 to five feet) long, not including its 12-to-20 centimeter (4.7-to-7.9-inch) tail, and weigh 4.5 to 80 kilograms (9.9 to 176.2 pounds). Their brownish coat has white spots in the summer and becomes almost black in the summer, with females sometimes having vague spotting. White hairs on the rumps can flare out like chrysanthemums when the animals are excited.

Sika deer are browsers that live primarily in forests — but are often seen roaming around farmland — and feed on tree leaves, fruits, bamboo, twigs, flowers, buds, acorns and nuts. They have large eyes and a strange haunting whistle. Adults can have large stately antlers.

Sika deer have long been considered sacred animals in Japan. The fossil record of this species indicates that the Pleistocene Period (2.6 million to 11,700 years ago) deer of Asia — especially those of Japan — strongly resembled Sika deer. Captive individuals generally live 15 to 18 years, though one was recorded living 25 years and five months. [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Sika Deer Habitat, Subspecies and Where They Are Found

The original native range of Sika deer has been described as "the southern Ussuri district of eastern Siberia; China, Formosa, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Taiwan, and parts of Vietnam". The species has also been introduced to Australia, Austria, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Jolo Island (south of the Philippines), New Zealand, Poland, Scotland, Maryland, Morocco, Oklahoma, Texas, Wisconsin, and Virginia. [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Sika deer are primarily forest-dwelling deer that prefer forested areas with a dense understory. However, these animals are able to adapt quite well to a variety of other habitats such as freshwater marshes, other wetlands, scrub forests, grasslands and hills and mountains up to 1800 meters (5900 feet). Some populations participate in seasonal migrations between lower and higher elevations of up to 700 meters determined by factors such as snowfall, subsequent melt, reproductive cycles, food availability and plant defoliation. The summer ranges of these animals are generally higher and larger than their winter ranges.

Sika deer subspecies:
C. n. aplodontus, northern Honshu
C. n. grassianus, Shanxi, China
C. n. keramae, Kerama Islands of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan
C. n. kopschi, southern China
C. n. mandarinus, northern and northeastern China
C. n. mantchuricus, northeastern China, Korea, and Russian Far East
C. n. nippon (type species), southern Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu
C. n. pseudaxis, northern Vietnam
C. n. pulchellus, Tsushima Island between Korea and Japan
C. n. sichuanicus, western China
C. n. sintikuensis, Taiwan
C. n. soloensis, Southern Philippines (anciently introduced to Jolo island; of unknown subspecies origin, probably extinct)
C. n. taiouanus, Taiwan
C. n. yakushimae, Yakushima, Japan
C. n. yesoensis, Hokkaido, Japan Serious genetic pollution has occurred in many populations, especially in China, so the status of many subspecies remains unclear. The status of C. n. hortulorum is particularly uncertain and might in fact be of mixed origin, and thus is not listed here. Some researchers have proposed that interbreeding between Japanese sika deer and red deer has occurred, yielding hybrid animals with an adaptive advantage over their purebred relatives. [Source: Wikipedia]

Sika Deer Characteristics

female sika deer

Sika deer are a small to medium-sized deer that range in weight from 4.5 to 80 kilograms (10 to 176 pounds) and have a head and body length that ranges from 95 to 180 centimeters (37.4 to 71 inches). Their tail length is 7.5-13 centimeters (three to five inches). The stand 64 to 109 centimeters (25 to 43 inches) at the shoulder. On average, males grow until they are seven to ten years old, while females stop growing at age four to six years. Sexual Dimorphism (differences between males and females) is present: On average males are 8.7 percent larger than females. Ornamentation is different. Antlers are only found on males. [Source:Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Nathan Landesman wrote in Animal Diversity Web: The fur of Sika deer ranges from chestnut-brown to reddish-olive and exhibits a great deal of variation resulting in colors such as yellow-brown, gray-brown, tan, black, or gray depending on the subspecies. In addition, the coats of these animals are mottled with white spots arranged in seven or eight rows on the upper sides of the back. Moreover, the mid-dorsal area of Sika deer is darker than the rest of its coat, and this forms a line from head to rear, terminating at a large, white, erectile rump patch often used as a distinguishing characteristic of these animals . The metatarsals of these deer are surrounded by tufts of grayish-tan hairs, and the hooves of adult males average 6 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in width (those of females are slightly smaller). The winter coat of sika deer is very dense with 50-7 centimeters long hairs, while its summer fur is composed of much finer, straighter, and shorter (30 mm) hairs. The chin, throat, and belly of sika deer have an off-white or gray hue. Finally, both sexes have a shaggy neck mane that darkens in the winter. /=\

Two molts occur annually in sika deer. In northern temperate climates the molt into winter fur takes place over a 2-4 week period beginning in September, while the summer molt requires approximately three months and begins in March. Interestingly and for unknown reasons, it is the older deer that molt first. /=\

In the Northern Hemisphere, males are in velvet antlers from May until August, but hard antlers predominate by early September, just in time for intrasexual selection activities like fraying. The growth phase of antlers is about 130 days beginning immediately in May when they are generally shed. It should be noted that older males shed their antlers before their younger counterparts. The antlers of sika deer are narrow, erect, and directed slightly posteriorly. Each is fairly short — measuring about 300-66 centimeters in length depending on the subspecies and local conditions — and has 2-5 tines (prongs). A 25 millimeters diameter at the base of each antler is common, while a spread of 400-50 centimeters is the maximum observed length. An upswept brow tine arises approximately 25 millimeters above the coronet (burr), while a bay tine is absent. Also, a forked, or sometimes palmated, tine surmounts the tray tine and faces forward. Finally, experimentation with antler growth and development have revealed that these processes can be entrained in deer previously sensitized to decreasing day lengths by increasing day lengths. /=\

The skull of Sika deer is relatively short, with a rounded frontal-parietal region. The nasal bone does not extend beyond the maxilla, the lacrimal vacuity is fairly shallow, and the paroccipital processes extend below the occipital condyle. Overall, the cranial measurements of adult males averaged 8.9 percent larger than those of females. The dental formula of this species is 0/3, 1/1, 3/3, and 3/3. The upper canines of sika deer protrude from the maxilla anteriorly, while the lower canines are incisiform . The molariform teeth are hypsodont and selenodont . /=\

Sika Deer Food and Eating Behavior

Sika deer are primarily herbivores (primarily eat plants or plants parts), and are also classified as folivores (eat mainly leaves). Among the plant foods they eat are leaves, roots, tubers wood, bark, stems, acorns seeds, grains, nuts, fruit, buds and fungus. [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

In Japan sika are primarily browsers that live primarily in forests — but are often seen roaming around farmland. They are regarded as a crop pest in some places and also cause environmental damage. Deer were responsible for 20.8 percent of the ¥18.6 billion in crop damage caused by animals in fiscal 2005 in Japan, They have been blamed for damaging forests and killing trees by stripping off their bark and contributing to problems like erosion and flooding by eating away grass and shrubs that hold the soil in place

Sika deer have been recorded eating marsh grasses, fallen leaves, brushy vegetation, herbs, bamboo, ground ferns, poison ivy, soy beans, and corn. They are highly adaptable and can be either grazers or browsers depending on the local habitat and conditions.

Sika Deer Behavior and Movement

sika deer range

Sika deer are cursorial (with limbs adapted to running), terricolous (live on the ground), nocturnal (active at night), motile (move around as opposed to being stationary), sedentary (remain in the same area), territorial (defend an area within the home range) and social (associates with others of its species; forms social groups). [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

During the summer adult males begin to establish territories that average 4.76 hectares but can range from two to 12 hectares. It should be noted, however, that nonterritorial males — abouy 80 percent of the male population — have an average home range of 11.74 hectares . /=\

Sika deer are not very gregarious. According to Animal Diversity Web: Adult males are solitary for most of the year but sometimes band together, while females and their young form groups of two to three only during the calving season . Males mark the boundaries of their territories by digging holes up to 1.6 meters wide and 0.3 meters deep with their antlers and forefeet and urinating in them frequently. In addition, thrashing of the ground cover with their antlers serves to define an individual's territory as well . When territorial disputes occur between males, antlers and hooves are used as the primary weapons . /=\

Sika deer are excellent swimmers and readily enters the water to escape predators or for other purposes . They have been observed swimming in the sea 12 kilometers from land. When running at slow to medium speed, Sika deer uses a stiff gallop, making bounds of up to three meters in length . At slightly increased speeds they exhibit a stiff-legged, quadrupedal (use all four limbs for walking and running) hopping with all four hooves about 0.3 meters off the ground simultaneously . With this gait bounds of six meters in length have been reported, and these deer were able to clear obstacles up to 1.7 meters in height . /=\

Sika Deer Senses and Communication

Sika deer sense and communicate with vision, touch, sound and chemicals usually detected by smelling. They also leave scent marks produced by special glands and placed so others can smell and taste them. [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

Sika deer is a highly vocal species, and as of 1991, 10 different sounds have been recorded . These noises range from soft whistles used by does to communicate with each other, to "goat-like bleats" from does to fawn, to "soft, horse-like neighs" from fawn to does, to "loud, blood-curdling" screams produced by males, to an alarm call described as either a "sharp scream, a high-pitched whistle followed by a gutteral bark, or a chirp-like sound". /=\

Sika deer also usual postures and touch in communication. They use chemical cues to convey information on reproductive status and territorial (defend an area within the home range), boundaries (see Behavior, above). /=\

Sika Deer Mating, Reproduction and Offspring

Sika deer are polygynous (males have more than one female as a mate at one time). They engage in seasonal breeding and breed once a year. Breeding occurs in the fall, from September through October, with the average number of offspring being one. [Source: Nathan Landesman, Animal Diversity Web (ADW) /=]

sika deer fawn

A successful male can attract a harem of as many as 12 females to his territory during the six-week mating (rutting) season. When rutting males quickly deplete their fat stores and may lose up to 20-30 percent of their body weight. Females do not lose weight during the rutting season and may associate with a number of bucks in order to gain access to a number of feeding locations.

The average gestation period for sika deer is seven months. Births typicall take place in May and June. Newborn weighs about 4.5-7.0 kilograms at birth and and is nursed from one of its mother's four mammae for up to 10 months. Sika deer milk is very milk, containing approximately 13 percent fat when lactation begins and 30 percent when it ends. The birth of calves usually takes place in forested areas or open fields, but small outlying patches of cover may be used in some cases . /=\

Young are altricial. This means that young are born relatively underdeveloped and are unable to feed or care for themselves or move independently for a period of time after birth. Parental care is provided by females. They care for their young for up to a year after birth. Young become independent ranging from 10 to 12 months. Males and females reach sexual or reproductive maturity at 16 to 18 months.

Sika Deer, Humans and Conservation

There are lots of sika deer running around. Some subspecies are endangered but the species as a whole suffers from overpopulation issues if anything. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies them as a species of “Least Concern”.. On the US Federal List they are classified as Endangered. In CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild) they have no special status.

Sika deer are valued in China for their antlers, which are used in traditional medicine. They are also an important food and game animal. Because of their fondness for soy beans and corn, sika deer are regarded as crop pest.

The following subspecies of Sika deer have been classified as endangered: C. nippon taiouanus of Taiwan, C. nippon keramae of the Ryukyu Islands, C. nippon mandarinus and C. nippon grassianus of northern China, C. nippon kopschi of east-central China, and C. nippon hortulorum of southeastern Siberia, Manchuria, and Korea.

Sika deer have been the targets of unregulated hunting for food and body parts and had their forest habitats diminished by the encroachment of agriculture. Natural predators include by wolves, feral dogs, foxes, and lynx. Although some of the endangered sika deer subspecies are still present on farms in various locations, they may be extinct or near extinct in the wild. C. nippon keramae survives on three uninhabited islets. /=\

Sika deer are important as a food source some larger predators. They manipulate native vegetation through browsing. Sika deer primarily use vigilance to protect themselves from predators. Their antlers and sharp hooves can also be used in defense.

Deer at Nara Park

The 1,500 or so sika deer at Nara Park have been treasured as divine messengers at Kasugataisha shrine for generations and were designated as national Natural Treasures in 1957. References to them have been found in Japan’s oldest historical records the “Kojiki” .and “Nohongi”. In the evening they are called to a feeding area by the blowing of a trumpet.

According to legend the deer are offspring of a sacred white deer from Kashima Shrine in Ibaraki Prefecture and are messengers of the gods. Sika deer from this area were considered sacred due to a visit from Takemikazuchi-no-mikoto, one of the four gods of Kasuga Shrine. He was said to have come from Kashima Shrine in the Tokyo area and appeared on Mount Mikasa riding a white deer. Killing one of these sacred deer was a capital offense punishable by death up until 1637. After World War II, the deer were officially stripped of their sacred status, and were designated as national treasures instead. The number of deer grew to around 1,200 in 2008, leading to concerns about environmental damage and discussions of culling.

Tourists feed them “shikaenbei” (“discs of food”) that can be bought only $1.85 in the park and are are exclusively sold by the WNOW company. Year-round tourists feed and take selfies with the deer. The stacks of discs are essentially rice crackers. Some deer have been trained to bow on command. On Sundays and holidays in October, during the Deer Antler Cutting in Nara Park, a Japanese version of a round up and rodeo, the deer are chased into the Kasunga Taisha Shrine area and corralled off and then wrestled to the ground so their antlers can be sawn off.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: Animal Diversity Web animaldiversity.org ; National Geographic, Live Science, Natural History magazine, David Attenborough books, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Discover magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Wikipedia, The Guardian, Top Secret Animal Attack Files website and various books and other publications.

Last updated January 2025