Just on the dog walk and came across a deer, just curled up like it was asleep on the side of the track.
It’s breathing and he opened his eyes when I approached, didn’t look injured and was in what looks like a sleeping position, but it didn’t move any more than that.
It's pretty normal, they'll be active at dawn and dusk, but during the middle part of the day they'll usually lie up and rest. At night they will eat and move as they are more vulnerable to predators, or they'll set in thdmiddle of an open area where they cant be crept up on easily.
I think it just made a poor choice of location to settle.
It's an adult Roe buck and their mating season has recently finished. It could just be knackered after spending all its time chasing the ladies and not eating or resting properly.
If it doesn't appear to be suffering, leave it alone and let nature take its course, whatever that may be.
At Wollaton hall in Nottingham we saw a massive stag in a similar state just lying passively looking almost asleep but dozing with its eyes open and not moving at all.
We asked the staff about it and apparently it’s because it was mating season and they’re up all night fighting (can’t remember the proper name) and so they are absolutely knackered during the day (if they survive the night) so just relax being still all day.
I also think it looks a bit thin, and I watch loads of roe deer (8 this morning). Fozzy who posts on here is an expert on deer (think he stalks them), but his view may be the most informed.
The roe bucks I've seen recently look in tip top condition.
I don't think it's unusual for the rut to take so much out of an alpha stag that it dies afterwards, especially if it's at the end of its reign. Non-stop shagging doesn't seem a bad way to go. Not so sure about the roaring and fighting required to fend off the younger stags...
Fairly sure I've seen this reported in nature programmes.
It’s a roe buck (with rather a good head on him!) couched up, but getting that close without him bolting is a bit odd. It may be that he’s still rutting & is knackered, but most of that has finished now.
Are there any brassicas growing nearby? It could be ‘rapeseed blindness’, which is brought on by excessive sulphur consumption from browsing brassicas.
It’d be worth mentioning it to the farmer, if you can find them, so they can let whoever has the stalking know to keep an eye out in case he is in trouble & needs dealing with.
Fri Night Vid Finding Focus - Life Behind The Lens of a Climbing Photographer
This week's Friday Night Video is a portrait of a prolific climbing photographer from Wedge Climbing. Sam Pratt is well known in both the outdoor and competition scene but if you haven't heard of him, you've likely seen...