Richard Williamson Nature Watch October 28
This week sees the end of the fallow deer rut. Prickets have been groaning since September but older stand bucks waited until mid October to sound their fog horns in the woods of Sussex.
In Petworth Park the scene is like the Serengeti with hundreds of does in harems watching the mighty bucks clashing antlers together and waiting for the victors to fertilise them.
The bucks dig antlers into the ground to gather lumps of mud and turf that make them look even bigger than they are.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIn some cases this becomes a dangerous ploy since barbed wire, plastic stack sheeting and other rubbish might become entangled and can cause great distress, even death, when the excitement is all over.
Fallow fawns will be born next June. The roe deer rut was three months ago in late July-early August and their young, known as kids, will be born in May.