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.
Topic: Young fallow deer (Read 3966 times)
