Roe Deer Behaviour

[Royalist]

Does anybody have any comments about the following please?

Quote from Fauna Britannica

"Roe deer - Capreolus capreolus:

Even at a distance deer seem to be able to distinguish between humans that mean them no harm and those that after their blood. If hikers go pounding through a wood, wearing bright anoraks and chattering, deer often stand at no great distance and watch them without taking evasive action; but the moment they see someone moving stealthily and clad in camouflaged garments, they detect a sinister element in his gait, and make off".

Roy

[mh68]

I think it`s more to do with the Deer being aware theyre being watched/stalked. If you act as though you havent noticed them and avoid direct eye contact, they dont regard you as a threat so dont bolt as readily.
By creeping around quietly, and watching the animals intently, you`re giving them the impression theyre being stalked so they take evasive action and leg it.Such behaviour is interpreted as a predator on the hunt,which provokes a reaction from the Deer.Watch any programme on big game in Africa, and you`ll see that the prey species of big cats etc, such as Zebra, behave very calmly when faced with a predator acting indifferently to their presence. Once the predator goes into hunting mode, it`s behaviour changes and the Zebra pick up on this,realise theyre being stalked and act accordingly.

Mark H

[derelict]

Originally Posted by Royalist

Does anybody have any comments about the following please?

Quote from Fauna Britannica

"Roe deer - Capreolus capreolus:

Even at a distance deer seem to be able to distinguish between humans that mean them no harm and those that after their blood. If hikers go pounding through a wood, wearing bright anoraks and chattering, deer often stand at no great distance and watch them without taking evasive action; but the moment they see someone moving stealthily and clad in camouflaged garments, they detect a sinister element in his gait, and make off".

Roy

There's a lot of truth in this - most deer have more experience of people than most people have of deer. And no-one likes surprises - so if you behave according to a deer's model person you are less likely to cause alarm. Individual deer can also recognise individual people and even individual dogs. Their responses vary according to what they are doing. I've heard it said that they can smell heightened adrenaline levels though I've seen nothing definitive on this. Even with park deer which are well used to people your source's statement still holds. If you stop walking they start getting agitated (you don't even have to be after their blood!) The closer you get to a deer without it seeing you the more pissed off it is going to be if it spots you.

The reverse holds too. Wonderful though the deer may be, there are times when I do like to know where are.

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by Royalist

If hikers go pounding through a wood, wearing bright anoraks and chattering, deer often stand at no great distance and watch them without taking evasive action; but the moment they see someone moving stealthily and clad in camouflaged garments, they detect a sinister element in his gait, and make off".
Roy

I tell my friends if i were to run through a wood shouting the deer would probably stay there but the moment u try stalking them & there gone.
The more u stalk the deer the better u get & thats the key becoming good enough so the deer don't know your there

[jennyb]

"My" deer have obviously got the wrong impression of me, then. They know me very well by now but still won't let me get close. How can I persuade them that all I want is a decent photo! They should have realised by now that they are perfectly safe in my garden. I would like to gain their trust rather than sneak up on them.

Jenny

[volence]

I used to be able to get close to the muntjacs in my wood, I'd walk queitly but not stalking, they'd know where I was was. But recently they have been very nervous, especially if I get a camera out, i think maybe local kids have been shooting them with BB guns to get them so nervous of a camera

[Rob T]

I agree totally with all the above but have also noticed Deer take very little notice of barking dogs, screaming children, chanel no.5, or florescent jackets when closely passing by them by on paths or walkways.

I can remember once walking up to 6-7 Fallow Bucks forageing in a wood and kept walking slowly towards them untill I was in the middle of them they slowly walked on for some 20 mins with me in the middle of them. I can also remember many many more occasions when Im spotted from 200yds and thats them gone.

We once spent 30 mins watching a Sika stag feeding on ivy we were at times 15ft. away as we stood still and it walked past us to the next tree, then for no reason it charged and stopped inches from Linda (I will post that pic) then carried on as if nothing had happend.

Ive had both Roe and Fallow walk up to me, stare me in the face and slowly walk away once whilst wearing camo and once not.

For me its their unpredictability that makes them so facinating.

Regards

Rob.

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by derelict

There's a lot of truth in this - most deer have more experience of people than most people have of deer. And no-one likes surprises - so if you behave according to a deer's model person you are less likely to cause alarm.

Thanks Derelict,

So you are saying that, if and when I do find an area where there are plentiful deer, that I should walk along on the paths, bold as brass in full camouflage gear, just in case I feel the need to go subversive, carrying full camera gear with long lens. It is quite difficult to stalk quietly anyhow and be carrying all that kit. That is why, I prefer to find a likely spot, sprinkle some peanuts or apples about, set up the gear, in a dark concealed spot and wait.

If you stop walking they start getting agitated

Have you noticed that whilst you are walking when the birds are singing, they stop singing the moment that you stop walking?

The reverse holds too. Wonderful though the deer may be, there are times when I do like to know where are.

So, they are better at camouflage/stalking than we are!!

Roy

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by jennyb

"My" deer have obviously got the wrong impression of me, then. They know me very well by now but still won't let me get close. How can I persuade them that all I want is a decent photo! They should have realised by now that they are perfectly safe in my garden. I would like to gain their trust rather than sneak up on them.

Jenny

Jenny,

Why not put some apples out for them then ??

That's what we all want "is some decent photos!

Roy

[Gill Catton]

I remember my friend the chef who had to walk home through some woods and often when he was making the journey at night he would end up with a fallow herd (well small groups) following him!!!

I guess that was the old keep the potential predator in your sights and its lost the element of suprise thing probably - must have still been very strange!

[Royalist]

Originally Posted by Rob T

I can remember once walking up to 6-7 Fallow Bucks foraging in a wood and kept walking slowly towards them until I was in the middle of them they slowly walked on for some 20 mins with me in the middle of them. I can also remember many many more occasions when Im spotted from 200yds and thats them gone.Rob.

WOW!! What a wonderful experience!!

Perhaps their behaviour was due to what might have happened immediately before they encountered you? Why shouldn't they have moods anyhow?

I do wish I could find some Deer in my part of Cornwall.

I think that a lot of the problems that wildlife have with humans is to do with the over population of our planet with humans. The same is also probably a contributory cause of global warming!!

Roy

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by jennyb

"My" deer have obviously got the wrong impression of me, then. They know me very well by now but still won't let me get close. How can I persuade them that all I want is a decent photo! They should have realised by now that they are perfectly safe in my garden. I would like to gain their trust rather than sneak up on them.

Jenny

deer, in common with a lot of other prey species, dont like camera lenses as it reminds them of a giant eye staring at them , which triggers the "predator - flight " response - there isnt really an answer to this other than to get into position without them seeing you - which is far from easy.