Why Bambi's on a collision course: Two-foot muntjac deer cause 42,000 crashes every year

By Damien Gayle


They are just two foot long and as cute as Bambi, but soaring numbers of muntjac deer are causing at least 42,000 road accidents a year, a study has found.

The south-east Asian species is responsible for an estimated 20 deaths and damage of at least £10million annually.

It has also been blamed for destroying crops, endangering native wildlife and spreading disease throughout the countryside.

Asbo Bambi: Muntjac deer have helped fuel a population boom that have seen UK deer numbers double in a decade, leading to a rise in accidents

Muntjacs have been described as ‘Asbo Bambis’ for causing similar levels of destruction in cities as urban foxes as they scavenge through gardens and dustbins.

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species, which carried out the study, said muntjac numbers in Britain have more than doubled to two million in the past decade.

The population has been growing at a much higher rate than native deer such as roe and red.

Most accidents are collisions between deer and cars, mainly around the M25 and the roads of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Warwickshire, where muntjac numbers are highest.

But they can occur across the country. Most recently, a 15-year-old boy died in July after hitting a deer while cycling near Brough, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The Deer Initiative, a group of government agencies and charities aimed at managing the deer population, has called for roadside measures such as deer crossings and sensor-activated warning signs to protect the animals.

Pest: With a loud bark and a streetwise aptitude comparable to the city fox, Muntjac deer are increasingly troubling drivers on both urban and suburban roads

But it argues that in some areas herds need to be reduced drastically by culling. Peter Watson, director of the Deer Initiative, said: ‘Muntjacs are becoming a pest in some residential areas, as they have no qualms about wandering into towns.

‘Unfortunately they are partial to roses and can eat up your entire garden overnight. They have also caused damage to parks and have even been spotted chewing up cemeteries.’

A trial cull of muntjacs along a stretch of road in Hertfordshire saw collisions fall from 50 a year to none.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there were no plans to increase deer culls beyond current levels of about 350,000 a year. A spokesman said it was the responsibility of landowners to keep numbers in check.

In Scotland, ministers are so worried about muntjac entering the country they are considering a £2million plan to set up observation stations and round them up as soon as they are seen crossing the border.

The deer usually hide in bushes and long grass and their dog-like bark means they are often mistaken for foxes when they rummage through gardens at night. The muntjac was introduced to Britain from China in the late 19th century by the 11th Duke of Bedford.

Initially the deer were confined to a 3,000-acre park at his Woburn Abbey estate, near Milton Keynes, until a few escaped in the 1920s.

Since then they have thrived. A 2009 report by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology found there were more than 150,000 muntjacs in Britain and their numbers were growing at a rate of 8.2 per cent a year.


source:dailymail

Hide and sleek: The moment a red deer decided to go undercover at Bushy Park

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON


Now you see me... The young red deer stands proud in its playground at Bushy Park, South West London


When it comes to hiding it appears this clever young red deer has found the perfect way to blend into the background.

It decided that camouflage was the best way to go unnoticed as it bounded through the ferns of leafy Bushy Park in South West London.

As the young male took to the foliage for some cover the shrubbery became wrapped around its antlers, helping him hide among the greenery.

...now you don't: The deer all but disappears amid the undergrowth as delves into the ferns


At one point its clever disguise meant it almost appeared to merge with the undergrowth - with just its fern adorned head peeking into view.

Unfortunately, the young deer failed to factor in just what it would look like after it emerged from the shrubbery.

While its decorated antlers proved an adequate disguise under cover, once in the open they ensured it was the focus of attention.

Clearly realising its mistake, the young deer swiftly galloped across the open ground - even charging through a stream - before safely losing itself amongst the ferns once again.

And it wasn't the only deer in Bushy Park to be enjoying a game of hide and seek.

Now we're playing catch: The deer realises his camouflage isn't enough so runs away, foliage still attached


source:dailymail

What a lovely view, deer: Surprising visitors pop up in Walsall housing estate

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The two wild red deer appeared to have got a little bit lost after they turned up on a Walsall housing estate


It's rare enough to get a good picture of a single deer in the wild, but when two sauntered through housing estate, passers-by couldn't believe their eyes.

These incredible pictures pictures were taken in the Black Country industrial town of Walsall just half a mile away from a busy town centre by Tim and Tom Kitchen as they made their way to catch a bus early one morning.

'I was driving Tom to the station so he could catch the bus to London when we saw them,' said Tim, a retired ICT advisor.


They almost look like a couple very much in love as they saunter down the street, side by side


'The car in front of us really slowed down and we wondered what was going on, then we saw them come trotting into view.

'They were just so casual, walking up the road in front of this car, I was amazed.

I've seen deer around but in a street with houses built up on either side, I could not believe it.

'They were amazing but certainly not in any hurry to get out of the way or rush off. They seem very relaxed and at home.

'We saw them from when we passed Ryecroft Cemetery down to just before Proffitt Street's junction with Bloxwich Road.'


One of the deer appears a little blurred as it makes a dash for it


The 61-year-old from the Pelsall area of Walsall, said it was his 28-year-old son who had the camera with him when they spotted the deer on Sunday.

'Luckily, Tom has always got his camera with him,' said Mr Kitchen. 'I've never seen a deer before so close to the town centre.

'I'm not sure where they came from, and I've certainly never seen deer as big as these in the town before - maybe they just fancied a stroll down the canal.


After their trip to town, it is not known where the deer ended up


'They looked beautiful, their antlers were lovely and they were just so happy and calm amid the chaos of a town.

'They were stunning and we were really lucky to see them, I haven't personally seen them since, I just hope no one fancied some venison burgers later in the day.'

Morgan Bowers, senior countryside ranger for Walsall Council, said: 'The important thing to remember is not to approach them or try to stroke them.

'They are wild creatures and can get scared easily.'

She said people who had seen deer in the area and knew what species they were, could report sightings to the local Wildlife Trust.


source: dailymail

Oh deer God! Four-legged beast breaks through glass door and runs wild in church full of people

Coming through: Terrified children in a North Carolina church dodge a charging deer.


A small, peaceful congregation received an unwanted and extremely rowdy visitor.

The Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina, may want to look into updating its security system after a deer broke through a glass door and tore through the house of worship.

Security cameras caught the deer pushing his way though an unguarded entrance, before taking the grand tour.

At first, the deer circled the building in attempt to find an easy entry.

Shortly after the four-legged animal pushed his way right through the front door, shockingly, without any of the parishioners spotting it.


Illegal entry: A deer breaks through the front doors of a North Carolina church.


The deer proceeded to charge though the halls of the crowded church, leaving children - who were forced to dodge the sprinting animal - terrified and scrambling for the exits.

A trio of brave men followed behind the unwanted guest as he nosed through a few rooms in what resembled a classic skit on the Benny Hill show.

After darting though a few more corridors the deer somehow found his way to the front of the church.

It engaged in starring matches with a few adults as children hid behind their parents and covered their eyes.

The deer then eased his way towards the door and galloped out of their lives.

Colonial Deer Video



source :dailymail

How did it get up THERE? Deer 'with wings' causes power outage (maybe it was trying to imitate Rudolph)

By JOHN STEVENS

Flying high: A power company lineman using a pole to remove a young deer carcass that was dropped onto a power line in East Missoula


It would have taken an incredible leap for this young deer to end up on the power lines above East Missoula.

But it is unlikely that the animal had an accident while trying to act like its distant-cousin Rudolph.

This fawn took out the power in the Montana town after it was dropped by a bird that bit of more than it could chew.

Lee Bridges said that shortly after the power went at around 9am, she spotted a bald eagle sitting in the top of her tree.

When a worker from the energy company turned up to investigate the power problems he spotted the fawn dangling from the power line.



The cause? A bald eagle deeds on a deer in Montana (file picture)


‘I ask him the problem,’ she said. ‘He pointed up at the power line and said, "Well you had a deer with wings on it.”

‘I looked up there and there was this fawn, a carcass of a fawn, up in the power line.’

Mrs Bridges suspects that the eagle dropped its prey and could not retrieve it.

Northwestern Energy removed the deer from the line and restored power after about a half-hour outage.

The lineman who removed the carcass from the power line said he had never seen anything like it.


source: dailymail