Muntjac

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Does anybody have any pictures of Muntjac tracks? In the snow there are alot of tracks, some of which look like deer. There are also area's under bird feeders that have been scraped to reveal food.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Lincs Yellowbelly

Does anybody have any pictures of Muntjac tracks? In the snow there are alot of tracks, some of which look like deer. There are also area's under bird feeders that have been scraped to reveal food.

They are very easy to identify - like any other deer tracks (two toes), but very minute (about 3 cm long), much less than any other deer. At this time of year, a tony deer slot can only be a muntjac (no young deer of other species). Also, in a clear track, the toes are very pointed at the front - so the whole track is a teardrop shape, sharp and pointed at the front, split down the middle between the toes.

[Dogghound]

Muntjacs also have a tendency to have less asymmetrical prints. Showing a (smaller) less developed inner cleave in a lot of animals.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Muntjacs also have a tendency to have less asymmetrical prints. Showing a (smaller) less developed inner cleave in a lot of animals.

I have never seen a Muntjac print that shows this clearly. A lot of books mention it. In Oliver Dansie's booklet published by the British Deer Society he says "Considerable mention is made of the assymmetry of Muntjac prints, but in fact this is not as marked as some of the books suggest and many Muntjac have bilaterally symmetrical cleaves." It may of course vary from area to area - I have seen lots of Muntjac tracks in Cambridgeshire.

henrya

[RKB]

Originally Posted by thunder

I have never seen a Muntjac print that shows this clearly. A lot of books mention it. In Oliver Dansie's booklet published by the British Deer Society he says "Considerable mention is made of the assymmetry of Muntjac prints, but in fact this is not as marked as some of the books suggest and many Muntjac have bilaterally symmetrical cleaves." It may of course vary from area to area - I have seen lots of Muntjac tracks in Cambridgeshire.

henrya

I'm susprised that people need to get that specific. They must be the easiest slot prints of the lot to identify, based on size and basic shape alone. I can understand grilling of Roe vs Fallow, or Red vs sheep, but can anything be confused with a muntjac for anyone who has narrowed it down to 'deer spp' (save for fawns of other species)?

Oh, hang on, Chinese Water Deer....

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by RKB

They're a nightmare. They are immensely damaging to woodland and scrub habitats, and they cost a fortune to protect against. Habitats need 9 ft fencing to keep them out and protect the native flora and fauna. They are particularly bad news for spring flowers, and can destroy 90% of the flowers in bluebell woods. And also woodland birds like Nightingales, by eating all the brambles. They breed all year round and can live at very high density (1-2 animals per hectare) in farmland, woods, scrub, reedbeds and suburbs, so are best thought of as very large rabbits, or goats. Just south of you in neighbouring counties, Natural England has to shoot hundreds of them each year to protect the habitat. Conservationists loathe them as much as the Grey Squirrel, if not more.

This reminds me of the book I found that described them as mostly harmless and the least damaging of all the deer. Something which, after correction on here (possibly by yourself?) after quoting it and a bit of research I found out was not only incorrect but they were the worst of the lot in many ways!

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by thunder

I have never seen a Muntjac print that shows this clearly. A lot of books mention it. In Oliver Dansie's booklet published by the British Deer Society he says "Considerable mention is made of the assymmetry of Muntjac prints, but in fact this is not as marked as some of the books suggest and many Muntjac have bilaterally symmetrical cleaves." It may of course vary from area to area - I have seen lots of Muntjac tracks in Cambridgeshire.

henrya

I have seen it in the field in some prints but not in others. I have never really given much thought to it but would be an interesting study.

[Bandit]

As we get a a pair of Muntjac in the garden most days, I'll endeavour to get into the garden before the mad springer spaniel when the next snow falls and see if I can detect some tracks (and take photos). I'm hoping they leave our new fruit trees alone - with their super tree guards!

[Lincs Yellowbelly]

Thanks for the replies everyone. The impressions in the snow where only very small, maybe just bigger than an inch long. I'm pretty sure they are the Muntjac that are making them.....now to protect the Orchard we are soon planting