Red deer are highly adaptable cervids, ranging from forests to coasts, even known to feed on seaweed. Their annual antler regrowth is unique among mammals: soft and velvet-covered at first, then hardened bone once matured. While still in velvet, stags avoid antler clashes and sometimes resolve conflicts with ‘boxing’, rearing and striking like hares. During the lekking season, stags gather to compete for dominance and territory. Hinds select mates from these displays, favouring strength and stamina. Red deer may already be adapting to climate change by shifting breeding patterns - continuing a legacy of evolutionary flexibility.