Roe deer family

AC · #1 (**permalink**) 12-07-2010, 08:46 PM

hello everyone.I'm new to the site this evening. Joined to find out more about the lovely little family of roe deer living in a strip of woodland behind my house. Mother,father and very small baby. I live in the middle of a housing estate in Cumbernauld, Scotland and my house backs onto a small school. There is a grassy area on the perimeter of the school and then a small strip of woodland and that's where they appear to be living. I'm amazed that they are so close to our house and also that they have enough food to survive in such a small area of trees. I first spotted them about a week ago. I was wondering if I could leave out some food eg berries for them or would this be the wrong thing to do? The adults were eating some leaves from the bushes this evening and the fawn was feeding from the mother. I watched and filmed them in full view of my bedroom window for 30 mins this evening and it was lovely. I know there are foxes around and the fawn is so small.I hope they can stay safe

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 03:12 PM

They are becoming increasingly common in urban and sub-urban areas. There will be enough food in the local area, they are likely to stay there through the day in the shelter of the trees then move onto farmland, grassland or other urban wasteland type habitats after dark. Foxes are not as much of a threat as humans im afraid. The Male will have no part to play in the up bringing of the fawn and at this time of year is likely to be trying to mate with the female. It is also likely that there is another fawn close by, whilst they are young the mother tends to them seperatley to reduce the risk of them being found.

AC · #3 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 07:10 PM

Thanks very much for your really interesting reply about the roe deer family. There are ongoing major roadworks while the nearby dual carriageway is being upgraded to motorway. The strip of woodland which ran alongside the dual carriage was torn out last year as the work commenced despite protests from people concerned with the welfare of the wildlife inhabiting the woods. I'd imagine the deer have been uprooted from there and driven further into the housing estate for shelter. I hope they'll be safe where they're hiding out now. It's been such a pleasure to watch them behind my house. My little 3 year old grand daughter is coming to stay tomorrow so I hope they make an appearance while she's here.
Thanks again for your reply.

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 13-07-2010, 07:52 PM

Early morning or late evening are good times to see them on the edge of an open area close to cover. Good luck!

AC · #5 (**permalink**) 17-07-2010, 09:26 PM

sorry to say the roe deer family I've been watching each morning and evening behind my house for nearly 2 weeks haven't been seen for 3 days. They appeared from the bushes for their evening run around in the grassy area and a very aggressive gull swooped down and attacked them. They ran off into the bushes and I haven't seen them since

Dogghound · #6 (**permalink**) 18-07-2010, 11:12 AM

Its unlikely this will deter them. They have possibly just changed their foraging habits, as the young grown they become more nomadic and are less restricted to the area they were hiding in.