Are deer park Deer wild?

[connerlake]

The other week i went to bradgate park and was elated to be surrounded by the best and most beautiful of british wildlife, the deer certanly seemed and acted wild, not letting you get very close and keeping a watchful eye on the people around, ESPECIALLY the females who were very timid of people, what would these animals be classed as?

[freefeet]

I class deer park deer as domesticated - at least the deer park deer i've seen. I've stood within twenty yards of deer park deer, in full view, and they've just looked at me as though that's normal because they're so used to humans being around, a truly wild deer would never let a human do that.

[connerlake]

but what after the fact they look after themselves feed themselves roam around by themselves breed as normal and are generally left to there devicies

[loripo]

I think they are referred to as 'captive deer' as they are kept in controlled areas such as parks.

[The Woodman]

Emparked deer are managed in similar ways to any other herd or flock of herbivores.

Surplus stock is selectively culled and often sold for income. When grazing is poor due to growing conditions or adverse weather e.g. snow cover, supplimentary food is supplied.

Expensive deer fences have to be maintained to prevent loss and the potential of introducing species into areas where they might conflict with native deer, cause damage to forestry and crops, cause r.t.a.'s etc.

Park stock is conditioned by the regularity of human encounter but generally behave like wild deer.

[paulthomas]

The deer at Bradgate are highly habituated to humans. If they behaved like truly wild deer they'd go to cover as soon as people started walking through the park and wouldn't come out until everyone had left.

[connerlake]

Originally Posted by paulthomas

The deer at Bradgate are highly habituated to humans. If they behaved like truly wild deer they'd go to cover as soon as people started walking through the park and wouldn't come out until everyone had left.

Yes i agree and i can understand just why they are so used to humans the park is always open, but they do not allow you to get close enough to touch them, which is why in my humble opinion they retain the title of a wild animal...to me.

[stephen p]

The deer park near me, i'd say is very big with many different areas of habitat.
It has around 300 Deer mainly Red but some lovely Fallow aswell.

When walking around it feels wild and they act just like wild Deer outside of a park.

I must say they almost seem more nervous of humans then ones i have seen else where. But that might have something to do with them being hunted for the Lords who own the park.

Steve