The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Ghdp on February 25, 2018, 01:24:53 pm
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A young male fallow deer has turned up in the last few day. It followed a couple of ramblers for several miles last week until I came across them looking very anxious, wondering what they should do to stop it following them and how they could get home! It had jumped fences and gates and found ways to keep up with them. I pointed to a couple of farm gates ahead on the track which I confidently believed would give them a chance to leave it behind but witnessed the determination it had to keep up with them. It was not something I had seen before.
I assumed it must have had significant contact with someone, perhaps hand reared, and the walkers said they had not offered it any food . A short distance further was a cattle grid and, feeling this was helpful, offered to stay with the thing whilst they got right out of sight, then I would cross the cattle grid. The inevitable happened, somehow it got across and it followed me - but feeling rather heartless i turned into our drive, closed the gate, went into the house and ignored it. Within 5 mins it trotted off.
Today it is back, in my field, in the garden, and standing by the front door. Shooing it has little effect.
I estimate it is about 9 months old and as young male should be with the doe herd. Apart from simply ignoring it, it is the last thing I want about the place, are there animal welfare issues I should be aware of for a young single deer and, if so, what should I do.
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I'd contact a good wildlife rescue and ask for advice.
There's one in Shropshire.......I think it's called 'Cuan'. Not sure if there's one closer to you.
Wonder if he has been released from somewhere like that???????
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Clearly habituated to humans and associating them with food and not danger. Do you have a local animal rescue that could take him?
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You're lucky.. if it was here V would be fawning over it <groan> and sending me t'shed to start making the sleigh for granddaughters next christmas. It'd be in with the pet sheep most of the time and hopping gates to eat my veggies and fruit tree when it fancies.
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Well Bambi II wandered off again (clearing our fences) but after having taken a drink of water from a bucket so clearly used to that. If i can get him into the house garden (which is more enclosed) I will try a local animal rescue. If he was part of a meat herd would he not be tagged?? No tags at all.
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Presumably come autumn he'll be a massive liability if he has no fear of humans and all his hormones wake up?
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Maybe a foundling that someone's raised in their garage and now tired of ....? I, too, doubt he'll be so amenable come the rut.
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Could be a pet who's escaped, maybe followed another or been frightened, then tried to get home?
I know some people on here don't like RSPCA, but it may have been reported missing? worth asking them?
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I am anxious about his hormones kicking in! I am away from home this week but he was apparently back in the garden today. Will speak to RSPCA.