How unusual is this?

Chris Hammond · #1 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 05:30 AM

Whilst sorting through some stuff last night I found a DVD a friend sent me last year. It's about 20mins of film taken in the back garden of his London home.

It is of an adult fox and a muntjac deer playing wildly together in the garden. They take it in turns to chase each other around the various shrubs etc. The fox looks the most enthusiastic of the two, cavorting and leaping around like a big kitten with those characteristic 'mouse jumps'. Anyone ever seen similar behaviour from foxes or deer?

Unfortunately the footage is in BW and not really good enough quality to put up on here, otherwise I'd share it.

hammock monkey · #2 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 05:46 AM

sounds fantastic, I've seen fox and deer forage close to each other, but it seemed more like coincidance than anything else.
Why not make a copy and pass it onto the beeb - maybe they'll put it on something like springwatch as a quick feature?

I'd love to see it, even if it is low quality it'd be great on youtube or similar

mrs fish · #3 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 05:53 AM

I would like to see it

Let us know if you put it on youtube

Wild-Woman · #4 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:00 AM

I suppose a creature of a similar size/or slightly larger than a fox could be seen as a playmate rather than food. Watching young cubs tussle and play, it's possible to see them 'acting out' attacks and kills, so I suspect if your fox is a young one, then perhaps it's the same situation.

Must admit it sounds fascinating and I for one would like to see it.

Chris Hammond · #5 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:05 AM

Just to clarify, it isn't my footage, it came from a friend, so I'd need his permission to do anything with it. I wouldn't have a clue how to put it on Youtube unfortunately.

If it was a bit better quality I don't doubt for a minute that they'd snap it up on Springwatch, it really is amazing.

hammock monkey · #6 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hammond

Just to clarify, it isn't my footage, it came from a friend, so I'd need his permission to do anything with it. I wouldn't have a clue how to put it on Youtube unfortunately.

If it was a bit better quality I don't doubt for a minute that they'd snap it up on Springwatch, it really is amazing.

Hi,
maybe your fried is willing to put it up? I've never put anything up on it either, but if 15millions americans can do it...
I bet that the beeb would have a look at it, maybe they have some pixie dust somewhere that could image intensify a good enough portion of it.

'just me being greedy wanting to see it - thanks for letting us know this kind of thing happens

oh aye, and one other thing - to actually answer your original question - fairly unusual I'd say!

mrs fish · #7 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 07:36 AM

If they were raised to-gether from young they would most likely be friends

nightshade · #8 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 07:57 AM

It is suprising how animals can get along isn't it I think you should get it on u-tube or like many things it could just get binned one day and lost for ever

helen253 · #9 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 11:33 AM

Oh I'd love to see that too!!

Chris Hammond · #10 (**permalink**) 24-05-2008, 03:31 PM

I'll have a word with the film owner and see if he'd mind me trying to put it up somewhere or sending out a few copies. It would have to be heavily edited though as the quality is woeful in places. The worst problem seems to be the cameraman's inability to sustain focus on the gamboling pair of animals.

As I've said though, the footage is extraordinary. It will make anyone viewing it quite mad with frustration, as even with the use of the simplest modern camera it would have make a fantastic and unique short wildlife film.