Have you ever wondered how a deer grows antlers and then mysteriously drops them each year? This process is called the life cycle of deer antlers and it’s an important part of a deer’s natural development. In this blog, we will explore what happens when deer grow their antlers and why they drop them every year.
The Growth Process
When spring arrives, a special type of tissue called velvet begins to grow on the deer's head. This velvet is full of blood vessels that feed the growing antlers with the necessary minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, to make them grow quickly. As summer progresses, the velvet hardens into bone and by autumn, the buck has grown large antlers with a branching pattern unique to its species.
Antler Shedding
After the rut, or mating season, testosterone levels in male deer drop significantly which triggers the shedding process. The body reabsorbs some of the minerals from the antlers while also slowly breaking down cells that connect them to their skull. By mid-winter, all that remains are small stubs on either side of their head until new antler growth begins again in late winter or early spring.
Pain-Free Shedding Process
Unlike some other animals who shed their horns or hooves, a deer never experiences any pain during the shedding process since only living tissue (velvet) is connected to its skull during growth. The shedding process occurs naturally over time and does not involve any physical force or external influences—it just happens as part of nature's cycle for these majestic creatures!
Conclusion:
Deer losing their antlers is an amazing phenomenon that happens every year. It’s fascinating to think about how they can grow so quickly using only their own resources and then drop them without experiencing any pain or discomfort due to nature's natural processes. As customers who love our products made with real elk and deer antler chews, it’s important for us to understand how incredibly natural this process really is! We hope this blog post has shed some light on this incredible life cycle!
