Deer

DEBSC
DEBSC Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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We back onto a wood and all winter we have had three young deer visiting the garden. One young buck And two young does. Sometimes the little buck sleeps in the garden. One of the does will take bread from my hand if it is quiet. They have turned a small
area of grass into a mud patch but no problem I just reseeded it. We haven't seen them for about six weeks but this morning I came down to find they have eaten all my bluebells, white ones, pink ones and blue. Yesterday the garden was covered in them and looked
beautiful with them, today only five or six left. Ungrateful little beasts, no respect!

Comments

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
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    edited May 2016 #2

    I wouldn't worry, when they get a bit bigger, you'll have a plentiful supply of venison right there to hand.  You can't get fresher than that.



    K  

  • DEBSC
    DEBSC Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited May 2016 #3

    I wouldn't worry, when they get a bit bigger, you'll have a plentiful supply of venison right there to hand.  You can't get fresher than that.



    K  

    Nooooo!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited May 2016 #4

    And  think  of  the  antlers  you  will  have  decorating  the  front  of  your  caravan,  and  possibly  the  top  of  your  awning  poles   as  well  in  time   !

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #5

    Did the joy of feeding them and having their confidence outweigh a few bluebells being sacrifised? If so then you were the lucky ones that the deer confided in you and felt safe. Don't feel bitter.

  • RSPB
    RSPB Forum Participant Posts: 53
    edited May 2016 #6

    Deer are unfortunately a bit of problem for nature conservation as they love eating wildflowers, tree saplings in woodlands etc. 

    But, it's not the deers fault. The main issue is the lack of a natural predator, as we made wolves, lynx, beers all extinct centuries ago. If those predators were still around, deer populations would be kept in check and our habitats would thrive without
    us having to intervene.

    That's why I think it's very exciting to hear about rewilding of beavers, lynx and boar in the UK. Then you'd get to keep your lovely bluebells!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #7

    I  think  it  could  be  "Quite  Entertaining"  for  a  couple  of  dogs  being  walked,  quite  legitimately  &  not  doing  any  harm,  to  suddenly  find  themselves  confronted  by  a  lynx  or  two,  or  even,  Heaven  forfend,  a    male  wild  boar  !!   Some  years  ago  I  saw  one  of  the  T.V.  programmes,  done  by  a  Sikh **   version  of  David  Attenborough,  following  a  family  of  tigers  in  India  .  They  arrived  at  a  waterhole  where  the  piglets  were  drinking.  The  tiger  saw  them  and  was  picking  its  'supper'  not  realising  the  male  boar  was  on  guard  duty  a  few  bushes  away.  The  tiger  charged,  but  the  boar  charged  faster  &  sank  its  tusks  into  the  tigers  flanks  leaving  a  very  startled  &  hurt  tiger  with  about  eight  inches  of  flesh    hanging  loose  &  getting  caught  in  the  scrubby  bushes  when  it  fled  !!

    Whatever  the  rights  &  wrongs  of  "Reintroduction"  one  thing  is  certain  Wild  Boar  are  nice  shy  creatures  and  bloody  minded  when  the  need  arises.

     

    **  I  forget,  to  my  eternal  shame,  the  gentleman's  name  but  he  is  a  regular  on  programmes  following  tiger  families  in  the  Sub--continent.

     

    B

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,586 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2016 #8

    It's funny. Quite a few years ago my wife and I went for a walk around a lake with overgrown vegetation in some parts and a campsite adjacent, this being in France. We were hissed at by a polecat which was up a tree, saw at least 3 Snakes quite close up
    but only when a wild boar made its presence felt from about 20 feet away in the reeds did we feel worried. 

    I was alright though because I can outrun Mrs. WN.Surprised