On my way back through the marsh this morning, after checking my camera traps around the heronry, this bold muntjac buck slid under the Lagoon Field gate, looked me straight in the eyes, sauntered across the North Corral and down the bank into the Swamp as if he didn’t have a care in the world. I’m used to the marsh muntjacs speeding away as fast as their little legs will carry them when they see me. It’s probably the same deer I photographed last week when raking-out at the GCN Pond.
Muntjac deer buck
Muntjac in the Swamp
A cheeky one–
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I think he has a different outlook on life.
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How many muntjac deer do you think there may be in this area?
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Surely their presence is bad news for the plants in the area?
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Muntjac deer move in and out of the marsh at will, and they eat almost anything, as do the marsh cattle. There is a wide variety of vegetation growing on the marsh and I move the cattle around depending on the needs of a particular habitat. The muntjac deer is just another grazing and browsing animal. Foxes eat flowers, as do badgers. I wish the deer would eat more of the willow, birch and alder scrub: we have far to much of it.
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Very interesting, thank you.
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If you would like to see how much vegetation I have to deal with at the beginning of July, Anne, you might like to take a look at this video: https://thewildenmarshblog.com/2017/07/03/summer-rotation/
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It varies, Stephanie. I was out on the marsh last night and counted 16 pairs of muntjac eyes; other times it might be half a dozen or less. I have seen a herd of 18 muntjac in Hoo Wood at night.
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Thanks Mike, I have come across one or two on Wilden Lane, crossing the road which always seems very hazardous for them.
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It amazes me how few deer are killed crossing Wilden Lane.
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Good catch.
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Thanks Tom.
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