Mating Seasons within Castelporziano Forest

An adult male fallow deer (Dama dama) chases away from its territory a youngster that is too daring for its age.

Within this species, the males are able to reproduce at two years of age, but they need to grow and develop good antlers in order to contend with rivals for females.

However, having the longest antlers and/or the largest size does not guarantee success in fights for the best-endowed males.

An adult male wild boar (Sus scrofa) prowls alone in the forest.

During the mating season, which starts in fall and can continue until late spring, adult males fight to gain a dominant role and to be able to mate with the females that live within a given area.

However, some of the latter then choose other males or are also courted by several partners at the same time.

A young male red deer (Cervus elaphus) confronts an adult male fallow deer (Dama dama).

During the mating season, which within these two species partially overlaps at the beginning of the fall, the presence of two males within the same territory is often difficult.

This can degenerate into manifestations of aggression that, although rare, can take place between individuals of different species.

A pair of crested porcupines (Hystrix cristata) move around together in search of food.

Crested porcupines are large rodents covered with quills, which protect them from predators. They are of north African origin and were probably introduced into Italy before 1500.

Within this species, pairs remain together for life, share the same burrows, and take care of their young together.

They are predominantly nocturnal animals and feed on bark, roots, fruit, and berries, as well as on agricultural products.

A female fallow deer (Dama dama) is about to come out of the forest.

The females of this species are smaller and decidedly lighter than the males (88–110 pounds (40–50 kg) vs. 154–220 pounds (70–100 kg)) and, as with the red deer and roe deer, do not have antlers.

The differences in size and different relative energy and food requirements lead to the two sexes using different habitats.

As a result, they live separately for most of the year.
They only come together again during the mating season.

A female Italian roe deer observes with attentive eyes and large ears primed to perceive any unusual sound.

The roe deer's mating season is in the summer.

The adult males often remain attached to the same territory over the course of years, defending it from any rivals, while the females, in order to attract different males, travel many miles.

An Italian hare (Lepus corsicanus), in its winter coat, captured as still and watchful in the grass.

There is still very little known about the ecology of this species, which seems to display sedentary behavior and prefer very diverse environments, which alternate between clearings, bushy areas, and woods.

This also means that they are able to reproduce continuously throughout the year, although many births occur in spring.

A small crested porcupine starts to explore the woods.

These rodents can reproduce throughout the entire year, but births are particularly concentrated in February and October.

The milder weather and rainfall of spring and fall revive the vegetation, and the availability of food for these predominantly herbivorous animals increases as a result.

An adult male fallow deer emits its mating call in the middle of an arena within which many females have come together to choose the best partner with which to mate.

The fallow deer's call is clearly recognizable, a low sound emitted repetitively (up to 55 calls per minute), although its intensity is not a sign of the effective vigor of the male, as is the case with the red deer.

A red deer calls at sunset.

The greater the size of a red deer (a long neck and a large upper torso), the deeper and more powerful its call.

In this way, the call (its acoustic structure) provides females and rivals with a clear indication of the male's actual physical dimensions and suitability, increasing the possibilities of attracting partners and keeping rivals at a distance.