The roar of the deer, i.e. the call that the male emits during the mating season, is one of the most fascinating and evocative natural phenomena that can be experienced during autumn. If you are a lover of nature and wildlife, listening to the bellowing of these magnificent animals is an experience that you cannot miss.
Despite the strong human presence, Lombardy boasts some ideal destinations to listen to and observe deer in nature during this particular time of year.
In this article, we suggest some itineraries and destinations in our region that are ideal for witnessing this phenomenon. However, we remind you that it is important not to disturb the animals, keeping the necessary distance and without emitting noises that may cause annoyance. To fully enjoy this exciting experience and increase the probability of sighting, our advice is finally to be guided by a mountain professional, who knows the environment and the habits of the animals.
- What is the Deer Roar
- When to listen to the roar of the deer
- Where to listen to the roar of the deer in Lombardy
What is the deer roar
The roar of the deer is a particular call emitted by the males during the mating season. It is a particularly deep, bellow-like sound, audible several kilometers away and echoing through the woods and valleys. It has a dual purpose, on the one hand it serves to attract females and make them aware of their presence, on the other hand it serves to discourage rival males, intimidating them with the depth of the sound, proportional to the size of the male. If all this is not enough, the males have no choice but to fight, goring themselves in the clearings, to establish hegemony over the area and the herd of females.
When to listen to the roar of the deer
The mating season, which therefore coincides with that of the bellowing, runs from the second half of September to the first half of October. In this month, the Alpine valleys echo the calls of these mighty animals, which can weigh more than 200 kg. The sounds become particularly more intense in the morning and from late afternoon until evening, when the weather is cooler and the animals have more energy, also in anticipation of a possible fight.
Where to listen to the roar of the deer in Lombardy
Below we list eight easy destinations and itineraries in Lombardy where it is easier and more likely to hear the bellowing of deer.
1. Val Zebrù, Sondrio
Val Zebrù, dominated by the massif of the peak of the same name, is located within the Stelvio National Park, in upper Valtellina. Characterized by lush coniferous forests and the cool Zebrù stream that flows through it, it is one of the best destinations to listen to the bellowing of deer. The route that starts from Niblogo, above Santa Caterina Valfurva, leads to the V Alpini refuge, but it is possible to stop whenever you want, perhaps stopping at the Campo refuge. The stretch up to the latter is not excessively challenging.
2. Val di Rezzalo, Sondrio
We move to the nearby Val di Rezzalo, always in the upper Valtellina and within the Stelvio National Park. Also in this case it is a pleasant excursion in a wide valley, refreshed by the flow of the Rezzalasco stream. The start of the route is from the village of Fumero and inside the valley, about 1 hour walk, there is also the La Baita Refuge.
For a magical experience in the Stelvio Park in Valtellina, BergamoXP organizes an autumn weekend. Immersed in the woods and forests that in this season are covered with the warm colors of the foliage, you will travel through the Val di Rezzalo and that of the Stelvio Pass, in search of the bearded vulture, the vulture of the Alps, and the deer which, thanks to the bellowing, is easier to spot.
3. Val Grande, Brescia
The Val Grande is a side valley of Valle Camonica, in the province of Brescia. It starts from Vezza d’Oglio and climbs up to the majestic glacier of Pietra Rossa. It too is part of the Stelvio National Park, and is very large and rich in farmhouses and pastures, used for grazing cattle during the summer. Starting from the hamlet of Grano or Tù, it is possible to go up to the Saverio Occhi bivouac. In autumn it is filled with the calls of deer and is another ideal destination for the sighting of these animals.
4. Pian di Spagna and Lake Mezzola, Sondrio and Como Nature Reserve
This small nature reserve is located north of Lake Como, on the border between the provinces of Sondrio and Como. It is divided into two macro-areas, that of Lake Mezzola, a small alpine lake located at the mouth of the Val Chiavenna, and the flat humid area of Pian di Spagna. A herd of deer lives inside the latter and during the beginning of autumn it is possible to hear their calls of love.
To increase your chances of spotting deer, you can participate in the kayak trip that BergamoXP organizes every autumn right at Lake Novate Mezzola and Pian di Spagna. With a little luck, you will be able to listen to the love calls of these animals and watch them as they drink in the lake’s water, thanks to the possibility offered by the kayak to reach places otherwise unreachable by land.
5. Lake Piano, Como
Lake Piano is a small basin of glacial origin located at the bottom of the Meneggio Valley, behind the town of Porlezza, between Lake Como and Lake Lugano. The circumnavigation of the lake is an easy path of about 3 km, and during the autumn the deer gather here for their love battles. Also in nearby Valsolda
6. Valsolda, Como
Not far from Lake Piano, the Valsolda nature reserve overlooks Lake Lugano and is a particularly wild and green area. Numerous animal species, such as badgers, foxes, roe deer, hawks have found refuge in its woods. It is therefore not surprising that even here it is easy to hear the bellowing of deer during the autumn season.
7. Val Seriana, Bergamo
Inserted within the Orobie Bergamasche Park, the Seriana Valley offers several locations where you can listen to the call of the deer in love. A first destination is the wooded area on the slopes of Mount Grem, Alben and Mount Arera, which therefore covers the Valcanale and Val del Riso. Alternatively, you can walk through the wild Val Sedornia, near the village of Gromo.
8. Brembana Valley, Bergamo
Similarly to its sister Val Seriana, the Brembana Valley is included within the Orobie Bergamasche Park and here too lives a large population of deer. There is therefore no shortage of areas where you can spot them. Among these, the most stable herds reside in the woods above Roncobello, on the Brembano side of Pizzo Arera, in the wild Val Parina and Val Terzera.
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