1. Antler Growth:
- Antlers are made of bone, not horn. They grow rapidly during the spring and summer, fueled by hormones.
- The antlers are covered in a velvety skin called "velvet," which contains blood vessels that nourish the growing bone.
2. Velvet Shedding:
- As the antlers reach their full size, the velvet begins to dry and die off.
- Deer rub their antlers against trees and bushes, scraping off the velvet and revealing the hard, bony antlers underneath.
3. Hormonal Changes:
- The shedding of antlers is triggered by changes in testosterone levels.
- In the fall, testosterone levels decrease, causing the bony tissue at the base of the antlers to weaken and break.
4. The Shedding:
- The antlers eventually fall off, usually between late fall and early winter.
- The base of the antler where it was attached to the skull leaves a small, bony projection called a "pedicle."
5. Regrowth:
- New antlers begin to grow again in the spring, repeating the entire cycle.
Interesting Facts:
* The size and shape of a buck's antlers can vary depending on its age, health, and genetics.
* Antlers are an indicator of a buck's dominance and reproductive fitness.
* The shedding of antlers is a natural process and is not painful for the deer.