News that the Emperor of Exmoor has been shot during the rutting season reminded me that it's a few days since we've seen the Baron of Blacka Moor. There are lower forms of life around. And there may be those who would like to play at being big game hunters.
The Baron could be seen far off in the dull light and drizzle with the lights of the city in the background. None of the challenging stags was in the vicinity, just the usual five hinds.
Another news item reported in the local Sheffield Star was about a fawn trapped in school railings. There was little information. Was this a roe deer fawn, or a red deer calf? And was it an escaped animal from an enclosure such as at Graves Park?
Another news item reported in the local Sheffield Star was about a fawn trapped in school railings. There was little information. Was this a roe deer fawn, or a red deer calf? And was it an escaped animal from an enclosure such as at Graves Park?
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I think that stag may have been shot somewhere on the open ground of Hares Down, Knowstone and Rackenford Moors, between Barnstaple and Tiverton. Hares Down is a registered commons, but the down and moors together are a SSSI for lowland heathland, as well as a SAC for culm grassland, but there isn't much heath around there as its mostly (60%) purple moor grass. The claim to fame of the SAC is the marsh fritilary butterfly. However, the SSSI notification has this right at the end:
"Red deer Cervus elaphus are found in the area"
As usual, truly wild nature is at the bottom of the list in our "nature conservation", less important than that butterfly, and nothing about our system of protected areas made any difference to the survival of that deer. Doesn't it just make you proud.
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