muntjac deer in Newark, notts.

welshtina · #1 (**permalink**) 16-02-2011, 08:43 PM

hi i am new to this site, i have looked up to see more about muntjac deer as one triggered the light in the garden while i was at the kitchen window... i have a large garden joining a bottom orchard (which has not been disturbed since last autumn). i had difficulty believing my eyes as i had no idea they were in this area, did a mental check to rule any other possibility out but i am positive it could only have been a muntjac. there are a lot of brambles and about a dozen trees down there but would that be enough to sustain a deer or would it be just passing through? are they territorial or nomadic? any info and suggestions as to what i should do if anything at all would be most welcome.. unfortunately by the time i thought to go get my camera it had disappeared.

Naturenutz · #2 (**permalink**) 16-02-2011, 09:08 PM

Hi tina and welcome.I would have thought they would have a larger territory and use your garden as part of it. I am sure i have heard they often travel the same routes.Someone with more experience of muntjac will be along shortly

welshtina · #3 (**permalink**) 16-02-2011, 09:23 PM

many thanks, i am looking forward to tomorrow when i can go and look to see if it left any signs at all. i know some people now consider them pests but i cant help but feel excited and honoured to have it visit! i have a huge woodpile and leave areas of nettles and brambles for the wildlife and a few years ago we had a fox live down there, but we think he came to a bad end on a nearby road. but never in my wildest imagination would i have expected to see a muntjac where there are so many houses.

STYRBJORN · #4 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 07:16 AM

If you didn't have your camera it must have been a big cat . . . .

welshtina · #5 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 09:42 AM

well i have been down there this morning and cannot work out how it could have got in or how it could get out and there is no sign of it still there ... so maybe an alien muntjac that has private use of a spaceship??? goodness knows.

thunder · #6 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by welshtina

well i have been down there this morning and cannot work out how it could have got in or how it could get out and there is no sign of it still there ... so maybe an alien muntjac that has private use of a spaceship??? goodness knows.

Muntjac can jump over quite high fences, and crawl under or through quite small gaps. Presumably there is an entrance to your garden that you use - perhaps it used that?

henrya

welshtina · #7 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 03:57 PM

yes i guess it must have, talking to a neighbour today, it is not the first time a deer has been seen, another was seen just yards away some months ago. so that reassured me that i hadnt been hallucinating! i now realise i have a huge ignorance so am looking forward to getting time to do some studying on them.

rjmartinuk · #8 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 05:54 PM

Muntjac are one of my favourite deer of the 6 we have in this country (along with the Native Roe).

As long as they don't start devouring all your plants and wreaking havoc - I would be very excited at having them popping in now and again

STYRBJORN · #9 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjmartinuk

Muntjac are one of my favourite deer of the 6 we have in this country (along with the Native Roe).

As long as they don't start devouring all your plants and wreaking havoc - I would be very excited at having them popping in now and again

And that is the overwhelmingly probable result. They are invasive, prolific and destructive. Their impact on understorey in woodlands is horrendous.

hairdye · #10 (**permalink**) 17-02-2011, 08:28 PM

Hi
I live in pontefract Yorkshire but have worked for the Highways on the A1,
A46,A52 around the Newark area for 9 years now and seen a massive increase in the deer populations in the area. I know the Muntjac has been spreading northwards rapidly from the Peterbro area and i have seen quite a few at Balderton and Coddington. .
The downside is most Muntjac we see have been killed by vehicles on the A1.
Not sure what it is about the east Midlands but the numbers of species it attracts is amazing. Red Kites and Buzzards can be seen most days from Grantham southwards as can Roe, fallow deer and muntjac. Badgers are everywhere and to be honest i dont think theres a site i havent worked on that didnt have a badger set in or nearby.
Anyway , good luck in seeing your Muntjac.
cheers