Roe Deer

[chriscml]

Hi everyone, after months of viewing this website I am finally making my first post!

I have recently become very enthusiastic about wildlife and whilst on a recent walk I found a very good place to observe many differant kinds of animals. It is almost a natural hide with panoramic views of two fields. I decided to return early the next morning and I was lucky enough to see 3 roe deer; one buck and two does.

Anyway I visited the place again today (the third time i have been back and the third time i have seen the roe deer) and I managed to get a photo of one of the does from about 5 metres away - sadly my camara is not very good so i apologise for the quality!!

Does anybody have any good information about roe and their behaviour? Or does anyone else like watching these mammals? I am looking forward to trying to observe them in the rutting season and hopefully before then i will see some kids too!!

[Badger Watching Man]

Hi there and welcome, and thanks for putting up the picture. It certainly looks like you've found a good spot with plenty of cover, and to see the deer three times out of three is excellent going!

[ron1863]

Hi Chris and a warm welcome to WAB. It's good that you managed to get close as they are very timid creatures that are spooked very easily. They tend to feed in the same places so they should come back to that area. They are easier to see during the colder months as they will wander into fields and open areas to feed.

Ron

[chriscml]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

Do you know any good websites or books about Roe Deer?

Do you know if there are any foods in particular that they like?

If they are easier to see in the colder months I shall definately have to make the most of it now then!! I did also notice earlier how easily scared they are when one was startled by a pigeon and ran about 20metres in the opposite direction! Seeing this made me appreciate how lucky i was to get so close. I also felt quite lucky to be able to listen to the differant noises that they make.

The location I have found is only about 3 minutes walk from a fairly large town which makes it all the more special in my opinion.

[Badger Watching Man]

There are quite a few deer books out there, but most of them seem to be concerned with the best ways of shooting them, which isn't exactly what I have in mind!

One I can recommend (only because I've read it - no other interest) is Deer Watch: A Field Guide by Richard Prior. It covers all the UK deer species, including roe, and is quite good on behaviour, habits etc.

[aeshna5]

A fairly inexpensive book I can reccomend is Collins Complete British animals- a photographic guide by Paul Sterry that features mammals (including cetaceans + bats), reptiles + amphibia.

More expensive + for really detailed info (possibly more than you want) there is the Handbook of British Mammals now in its 4th edition- the best reference book on UK mammals!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by chriscml

Hi,



Do you know if there are any foods in particular that they like?

Their main food is made up from browsing bramble, rose, some herb species, conifers, heather, grasses all year, new growth on deciduous trees in summer, beechmast, fungi, acorns in autumn, twigs, bark mainly in winter. Also berries such as cowberry, bilberry and some cereals. They are quite selective on which leaf/berrie etc that they eat only picking the best.

[Deer Stalker]

Hi Chris

Another book by Richard Prior that I would recomend is:

The Roe Deer: Conservation of a Native Species
ISBN-10: 1853105325

[ron1863]

There are a few useful site on the net, here is one example:

Roe Deer

[chriscml]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all of the responses! I shall enjoy reading and finding out more about these lovely native mammals!

Who would of thought that a small wooded area that provides some cover and that i share with a burnt out moped could provide so much enjoyment!

I started out on my wildlife walks to look for deer but have been lucky enough to see many other wonderful animals along the way. So i guess it is natural justice, that after learning to enjoy all of the other wonderful displays that nature has to offer, that i have managed to find a brilliant place to watch deer!!

Once again, thanks to all for your replies.