We evaluate the reliability of a set of easy-to-collect qualitative traits (appearance of the umbilical cord, position and behavioural reactions before and after handling) for ageing fallow deer neonates. By using correspondence analysis, we found that the studied set of traits can discriminate the age of fawns during the hiding period that, in this species, lasts only a few days. Ageing criteria are necessary to improve our understanding of mother-infant relationships, which may have an important relevance in analysing the population dynamics of this ungulate, typical of Mediterranean habitats in Italy.

Key words: Dama dama, ageing, fawns, hiding, fallow deer