Surrey walkers warned of ‘serious injury’ risk as deer rutting season …
Autumn has officially started in Surrey, bringing with it cooler temperatures and leaves beginning to turn a gorgeous golden hue. This time of year is brilliant for getting outdoors and taking in the scenery, with plenty of spots in the county to view spectacular deer including Bushy Park near Hampton Court, and Windsor Great Park.
However, walkers are warned to keep well clear of deer wandering free in parks[1] across Surrey. Autumn[2] brings rutting season, which runs from September to November whereby male deer show off their antlers to attract a mate.
The testosterone pumped stags can become aggressive with one another, and are known to fight by hitting their antlers together known as rutting. Deer[3] in the wild are generally timid and aren’t a threat to humans, however those in deer parks are used to being in close proximity to people.
According to the British Deer Society, antlers can be sharp and strong, which can make stags dangerous. Advice has been shared by the organisation, to keep everyone safe while still enjoying the great outdoors. “Visitors need to be extremely vigilant, otherwise they could risk severe injury,” Bushy Park’s Assistant Park Manager Bill Swan warned[4][5]
Walkers should take between 50 and 100 metres away from the deer, and to keep dogs on a lead. If a deer starts walking parallel and glancing across from the corner of its eye, the British Deer Society claim this could mean it feels threatened.
A dog walker was left counting the cost last year after[6] a male deer attacked their pet. The owner had taken their dog to Richmond Park which has 630 deer roaming around. The dog was set upon when it ventured too close to a red stag. Its owner then had to cough up £1,200 for vet treatment for their pet’s injuries. In a separate incident in 2018, a young girl who was being photographed next to a rutting stag was “gored in the thigh”[7] by a deer in Bushy Park.
If a deer is in an uncomfortable position, it could behave in a threatening manner. In this instance it is advised to back away from the deer slowly, as sudden movements could encourage the deer to chase. In the very unlikely case that a deer does go for the chase, it is advised to get a blocker such as a tree or a vehicle between the individual and the animal.
References
- ^ parks (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Autumn (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ Deer (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ British Deer Society (bds.org.uk)
- ^ Bill Swan warned (www.standard.co.uk)
- ^ eft counting the cost last year after (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
- ^ rutting stag was “gored in the thigh” (www.getsurrey.co.uk)