Sika deer are native to East Asia and prefer forests with dense undergrowth, but also venture into open areas to feed. Their varied diet includes leaves, buds, shoots, fruits, acorns and even reeds, rushes and aquatic plants in wetlands. In coastal areas, they may even feed on washed-up seaweed. This flexibility makes them highly adaptable, but can also lead to conflicts when they enter farmland and cause significant damage. Sika deer are very alert and often difficult to spot. They are also excellent swimmers and can cross large bodies of water when migrating or escaping danger.
Since 2025, the sika deer has been listed as an invasive species in the EU because it can spread across Europe and hybridise with the native red deer. As a result, strict restrictions apply to keeping and breeding sika deer in the EU, with continued keeping permitted only under certain conditions or with the appropriate authorisation.
Firma Josef Lehner GmbH, Amstetten
