Do deer bark?

[sparkygirl]

Last night about 11pm there was a deer in my garden which backs onto open fields. It was startled (we get Roe, occasionally Muntjac) and charged off lifting its front legs high and as it did uttered 3 or 4 deep, gruff coughs or barks. It was pitch dark so I could only make out an outline, but it was only about 30ft from me.
Anyone heard this noise before?
JAne

[mrbright]

hi and welcome, it was a muntjac, as these are commonly known as the barking deer, they indeed bark, sometimes very loudly for a small deer, when startled.

[Jason Claxton]

Hi Jane.

They most certainly do bark.Upon first hearing in them you would think that it was a dog 'n all,also Roe Deer bark as well.

Cheers Jason

[sparkygirl]

Ah! Well thank you for answering my question. It was a bit spooky and definitely not a dog sound. I see roe deer around all the time but muntjacs just creep around my garden late at night!

[mrbright]

i stand corrected, i did not know other deer bark, thanks jason, alas the only deer we get to see around here are many many muntjacs, they often startle me when walking back late at night from a local country pub, down a very tiny unlit path.

[sparkygirl]

Thanks Mr Bright! They creep around at night alot don't they?
Jane

[mrbright]

if i have had too many, when walking home, its like being in a scene from hound of the baskervilles.lol.

[HedgehogRescue]

Round here it's known as Muntjac city, they're everywhere and I've often leapt about 3 feet in the air when walking at night and one suddenly barks from behind a bush.

[salukiwhippet]

If it was deep, then a roe is more likely - a munty's bark is more like a terrier. I've been barked at by a fallow doe from 15 yards - I was stalking down a ride looking for a roebuck - probably August time I think, and she stepped out of the cover with a fawn at foot. I froze and the wind was in my favour so she couldn't work out what I was - must start taking a camera, though I doubt I'd have got away with lifting it. She barked at me for a good 2 minutes before running off down the ride.

A wonderful experience.

James