Why Bambi's on a collision course: Two-foot muntjac deer cause 42,000 crashes every year

By Damien Gayle


They are just two foot long and as cute as Bambi, but soaring numbers of muntjac deer are causing at least 42,000 road accidents a year, a study has found.

The south-east Asian species is responsible for an estimated 20 deaths and damage of at least £10million annually.

It has also been blamed for destroying crops, endangering native wildlife and spreading disease throughout the countryside.

Asbo Bambi: Muntjac deer have helped fuel a population boom that have seen UK deer numbers double in a decade, leading to a rise in accidents

Muntjacs have been described as ‘Asbo Bambis’ for causing similar levels of destruction in cities as urban foxes as they scavenge through gardens and dustbins.

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species, which carried out the study, said muntjac numbers in Britain have more than doubled to two million in the past decade.

The population has been growing at a much higher rate than native deer such as roe and red.

Most accidents are collisions between deer and cars, mainly around the M25 and the roads of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire and Warwickshire, where muntjac numbers are highest.

But they can occur across the country. Most recently, a 15-year-old boy died in July after hitting a deer while cycling near Brough, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

The Deer Initiative, a group of government agencies and charities aimed at managing the deer population, has called for roadside measures such as deer crossings and sensor-activated warning signs to protect the animals.

Pest: With a loud bark and a streetwise aptitude comparable to the city fox, Muntjac deer are increasingly troubling drivers on both urban and suburban roads

But it argues that in some areas herds need to be reduced drastically by culling. Peter Watson, director of the Deer Initiative, said: ‘Muntjacs are becoming a pest in some residential areas, as they have no qualms about wandering into towns.

‘Unfortunately they are partial to roses and can eat up your entire garden overnight. They have also caused damage to parks and have even been spotted chewing up cemeteries.’

A trial cull of muntjacs along a stretch of road in Hertfordshire saw collisions fall from 50 a year to none.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said there were no plans to increase deer culls beyond current levels of about 350,000 a year. A spokesman said it was the responsibility of landowners to keep numbers in check.

In Scotland, ministers are so worried about muntjac entering the country they are considering a £2million plan to set up observation stations and round them up as soon as they are seen crossing the border.

The deer usually hide in bushes and long grass and their dog-like bark means they are often mistaken for foxes when they rummage through gardens at night. The muntjac was introduced to Britain from China in the late 19th century by the 11th Duke of Bedford.

Initially the deer were confined to a 3,000-acre park at his Woburn Abbey estate, near Milton Keynes, until a few escaped in the 1920s.

Since then they have thrived. A 2009 report by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology found there were more than 150,000 muntjacs in Britain and their numbers were growing at a rate of 8.2 per cent a year.


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Hide and sleek: The moment a red deer decided to go undercover at Bushy Park

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON


Now you see me... The young red deer stands proud in its playground at Bushy Park, South West London


When it comes to hiding it appears this clever young red deer has found the perfect way to blend into the background.

It decided that camouflage was the best way to go unnoticed as it bounded through the ferns of leafy Bushy Park in South West London.

As the young male took to the foliage for some cover the shrubbery became wrapped around its antlers, helping him hide among the greenery.

...now you don't: The deer all but disappears amid the undergrowth as delves into the ferns


At one point its clever disguise meant it almost appeared to merge with the undergrowth - with just its fern adorned head peeking into view.

Unfortunately, the young deer failed to factor in just what it would look like after it emerged from the shrubbery.

While its decorated antlers proved an adequate disguise under cover, once in the open they ensured it was the focus of attention.

Clearly realising its mistake, the young deer swiftly galloped across the open ground - even charging through a stream - before safely losing itself amongst the ferns once again.

And it wasn't the only deer in Bushy Park to be enjoying a game of hide and seek.

Now we're playing catch: The deer realises his camouflage isn't enough so runs away, foliage still attached


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What a lovely view, deer: Surprising visitors pop up in Walsall housing estate

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

The two wild red deer appeared to have got a little bit lost after they turned up on a Walsall housing estate


It's rare enough to get a good picture of a single deer in the wild, but when two sauntered through housing estate, passers-by couldn't believe their eyes.

These incredible pictures pictures were taken in the Black Country industrial town of Walsall just half a mile away from a busy town centre by Tim and Tom Kitchen as they made their way to catch a bus early one morning.

'I was driving Tom to the station so he could catch the bus to London when we saw them,' said Tim, a retired ICT advisor.


They almost look like a couple very much in love as they saunter down the street, side by side


'The car in front of us really slowed down and we wondered what was going on, then we saw them come trotting into view.

'They were just so casual, walking up the road in front of this car, I was amazed.

I've seen deer around but in a street with houses built up on either side, I could not believe it.

'They were amazing but certainly not in any hurry to get out of the way or rush off. They seem very relaxed and at home.

'We saw them from when we passed Ryecroft Cemetery down to just before Proffitt Street's junction with Bloxwich Road.'


One of the deer appears a little blurred as it makes a dash for it


The 61-year-old from the Pelsall area of Walsall, said it was his 28-year-old son who had the camera with him when they spotted the deer on Sunday.

'Luckily, Tom has always got his camera with him,' said Mr Kitchen. 'I've never seen a deer before so close to the town centre.

'I'm not sure where they came from, and I've certainly never seen deer as big as these in the town before - maybe they just fancied a stroll down the canal.


After their trip to town, it is not known where the deer ended up


'They looked beautiful, their antlers were lovely and they were just so happy and calm amid the chaos of a town.

'They were stunning and we were really lucky to see them, I haven't personally seen them since, I just hope no one fancied some venison burgers later in the day.'

Morgan Bowers, senior countryside ranger for Walsall Council, said: 'The important thing to remember is not to approach them or try to stroke them.

'They are wild creatures and can get scared easily.'

She said people who had seen deer in the area and knew what species they were, could report sightings to the local Wildlife Trust.


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Oh deer God! Four-legged beast breaks through glass door and runs wild in church full of people

Coming through: Terrified children in a North Carolina church dodge a charging deer.


A small, peaceful congregation received an unwanted and extremely rowdy visitor.

The Colonial Baptist Church in Cary, North Carolina, may want to look into updating its security system after a deer broke through a glass door and tore through the house of worship.

Security cameras caught the deer pushing his way though an unguarded entrance, before taking the grand tour.

At first, the deer circled the building in attempt to find an easy entry.

Shortly after the four-legged animal pushed his way right through the front door, shockingly, without any of the parishioners spotting it.


Illegal entry: A deer breaks through the front doors of a North Carolina church.


The deer proceeded to charge though the halls of the crowded church, leaving children - who were forced to dodge the sprinting animal - terrified and scrambling for the exits.

A trio of brave men followed behind the unwanted guest as he nosed through a few rooms in what resembled a classic skit on the Benny Hill show.

After darting though a few more corridors the deer somehow found his way to the front of the church.

It engaged in starring matches with a few adults as children hid behind their parents and covered their eyes.

The deer then eased his way towards the door and galloped out of their lives.

Colonial Deer Video



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How did it get up THERE? Deer 'with wings' causes power outage (maybe it was trying to imitate Rudolph)

By JOHN STEVENS

Flying high: A power company lineman using a pole to remove a young deer carcass that was dropped onto a power line in East Missoula


It would have taken an incredible leap for this young deer to end up on the power lines above East Missoula.

But it is unlikely that the animal had an accident while trying to act like its distant-cousin Rudolph.

This fawn took out the power in the Montana town after it was dropped by a bird that bit of more than it could chew.

Lee Bridges said that shortly after the power went at around 9am, she spotted a bald eagle sitting in the top of her tree.

When a worker from the energy company turned up to investigate the power problems he spotted the fawn dangling from the power line.



The cause? A bald eagle deeds on a deer in Montana (file picture)


‘I ask him the problem,’ she said. ‘He pointed up at the power line and said, "Well you had a deer with wings on it.”

‘I looked up there and there was this fawn, a carcass of a fawn, up in the power line.’

Mrs Bridges suspects that the eagle dropped its prey and could not retrieve it.

Northwestern Energy removed the deer from the line and restored power after about a half-hour outage.

The lineman who removed the carcass from the power line said he had never seen anything like it.


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Distraught children find dead deer entombed in icy lake on 'magical' trip to see Father Christmas at country park

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Sad sight: A stag's body could be seen by visitors at Whitworth Hall Country Park in County Durham after it fell through ice


Children who visited a country park in the hope of seeing Father Christmas' reindeer were left horrified when they saw several animals that had fallen through thin ice and drowned.

Visitors to Whitworth Hall Country Park, in County Durham, were greeted by the gruesome sight after at least eight deer and stags died during the big freeze.

Hoof marks could still be seen on the ice leading to where the deer broke through into the freezing lake.

One woman, who asked not to be named, was visiting Santa's grotto with her eight-year-old son in the grounds of a hotel in the park.

She said: 'My son was distressed and we did not feel comfortable. It was an awful sight and nothing seemed to have been done about it.


Frozen: The animals died after mistaking the frozen lake for snow-covered land, to the horror of visitors


Park staff were unavailable for comment, but earlier this month manager Alan Lax described how the snow and freezing conditions had turned the lake into a death trap for the deer.

'We have put hay bales and food down to pull them away from the lake, but because the park is white and the lake it white they don't see the difference and walk across.'

He said it would be impossible to fence off the lake and attempts to break up the ice were futile as the lake quickly re-froze.

Animal expert Phil Gates said: 'This kind of tragedy does happen with wild animals.
'Sometimes, when lakes freeze, the water level beneath the ice drops down, making the ice on top even more fragile.

'Lighter animals such as rabbits and foxes can get across, but anything as heavy as a deer will go through.'


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The deer who did a real-life Bambi after getting stuck on frozen pond

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Oh deer! The doe with her back legs splaying and front ones bent on a frozen pond in Fareham, Hampshire


Looking like the cartoon Bambi, this deer struggles to get back on her feet after slipping on the ice.

But unlike in the classic Disney film, it was the fire brigade rather than best chum Thumper the rabbit who had to come to the rescue.

Concerned motorists dialled 999 after spotting the doe which had become trapped after venturing out onto the 45ft wide pond in Fareham, Hampshire.

She was seen with her back legs splaying while her front legs bent and buckled.
Animal Rescue specialist Buster Brown raced to the frozen scene along with fire crews and an RSPCA inspector to free the fallow deer.’

‘The deer appeared to have exhausted itself whilst trying to escape from the ice and was stuck in the middle of the pond on the ice.’

Using the same techniques that would be used to free a human caught in the same situation, two ice rescue paths were inflated and pushed out towards the dear by four firefighters wearing immersion suits and flotation devices.



Safe: An RSPCA worker holds the deer who was rescued by firefighters after being spotted by motorists


Mr Brown and two crew members the edged their way carefully towards the animal along the paths.

Mr Brown was then able to use a crook to grasp the deer's neck and placed a towel over the animal's head to stop it from panicking before carefully helping the creature back to the safety of dry land.


Cartoon: Bambi and Thumper on ice in the 1942 film


The deer was then passed to the RSPCA inspector and taken to a small barn close to the pond so it could warm up.

However, the sub-zero temperatures meant that the deer had eventually to be taken to the nearest RSPCA centre for observations.

Once it has fully recovered from its ordeal it will be released back into the wild.

Mr Brown said: ‘The animal was rescued using the same techniques that Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service would use to rescue people who might become trapped on ice, and this rescue provided an excellent opportunity for crews to utilise and practice the procedures.’

The fire brigade has reminded the public that they should not venture onto any ice covered water to rescue a trapped animal as they would place themselves in great danger.

Instead people should call the fire service who have the correct equipment to rescue both people and animals safely.

Now watch a video of the cartoon Bambi on the ice...




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I'm stuck in a rut deer! The bizarre pictures of a herd hiding in their holes

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

It's not just bears: Deer dig 'toilets' in the woods which double as a musky 'body spray'


It's said that there are no atheists in foxholes, but it seems that one thing you may find peeping out from a hole in the ground is a young buck.

The extraordinary sight was spotted by amateur photographer Mark Bridger while he was out walking in Knole Park, near Sevenoaks, Kent.

As he was wandering through the 1,000 acre park Mark had to do a double-take as he saw a disembodied head with impressive antlers that was seemingly lying on the ground.

In fact the stag was resting during the mating rut in one of dozens of 'cologne' holes dug by the animals around the park.

The holes are carved out of the autumn earth by the male fallow deer - who use them as combination of a latrine and 'Lynx effect'.

Dad-of-one Mark, 42, said before he found out why the deer use the holes it was quite a surprise to see such a big animal disappear into the ground.


Up to his neck in it: A young male deer peeps out of his smelly lair out in search of a date


He said: "It's not something you expect to see is it?, a deer hiding in a hole in the ground.

'When I first saw its head poking up I wondered if it had been chopped off, it was quite shocking.'

'When I was there it was during the rut and there were a lot of males using the holes.'

'Sometimes it looked like they were taking a rest from the action in their own mini dug outs like in a football match.'


Meet the parents: The young buck appears to have attracted a doe to his 'foxhole', but is that her dad looking on with disapproval?


Printer Mark said he loved walking in the park and was surprised to learn about the deer's unusual habit.

Mark, who lives with wife and son George in West Malling, Kent, said he had never seen or heard of anything like it before.

He said: 'I think the picture of the stag with its head popping up is quite funny really and I don't think its something people know about.'

A spokesman for Knole Park, which is run by the National Trust, said the male deer used the holes to cover themselves in the scent of dung and urine.

He said: 'It might not sound like something you or me would wear for a Saturday night out, but female deer are actually attracted to the smell.'

Knole is the family home of author Vita Sackville-West and its grounds were also the setting for arguably the first ever 'pop video' - The Beatles' promotional film for Strawberry Fields Forever.


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That's going to cost a few bucks: Rampaging deer shatters tables and chairs after leaping into bar through window

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Got any ID? The male deer jumped through a window to get into Lee's Bar and Grill in Bluffton, Ohio


Restaurant staff say they have no idea why this male deer decided to pay a visit to a downtown bar.

The buck jumped straight through a window at Luke's Bar and Grill in Bluffton, Ohio, before leaving a trail of destruction through the thankfully empty restaurant.

Staff ran for cover as the large animal struggled to maintain its footing on the slippery hardwood floor, smashing through tables and sending chairs flying.


On the hoof: The buck struggled to keep its footing on the slippery floor and smashed through tables and chairs


Barmaid Danielle Weyer jumped up on to the bar to avoid being run down by the marauding deer.

She said: 'I figured that was the best idea to stay as far away from the deer as possible.

'One customer held up a chair like it was a lion.'

CCTV footage inside the bar captured the terrified creature as it shattered two tables and left puncture holes in the leather chairs from its antlers in a desperate attempt to escape the bar.

Roy Rayle, chef at the restaurant, said he realised he had to free the deer after it stopped in front of the glass back door and looked like it was considering jumping through it again.

He said: 'I don't know if I was scared, it was an adrenaline pumping situation and it was the last think I would have expected.'


Let me out: The terrified animal stands at the back door as if it was considering jumping through the glass again


Freedom! The deer is let out of the back door by a member of staff and bolts across the car park


Unusual customer: Staff inside the bar scrambled to get out of the big animal's way after it made its surprising entrance


Mr Rayle ran around to the back of the bar and attempted to prop open the door so the deer could escape, but was forced to run clear as the powerful animal made a bolt for freedom.

The incident took place at around 2.30pm in the bar on Main Street.

Luke's Bar and Grill has made the best of the situation and launched a drinks offer - on the hoof of course - with two beers available... for a buck.





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