Aggressive and Shy

Reading of people being attacked by rutting stags in Bushey Park, London, reminded me that we have not seen anywhere near the numbers of red deer that we saw last year and early this (before the intrusive farming management clicked in). So an earlier than usual start on a promising morning brought some reward. One solitary thoughtful looking stag was rubbing his head against a lone pine tree and later wandered off to the woodland edge.



Bushey Park is a large Royal Park and a popular dog walking venue. It is walled in, the animals are managed and can't be called truly wild in the way deer are round here. They are far more used to people being around and that familiarity may contribute to the greater likelihood of an attack when excited during the rut. Here it is harder to get closer to deer and most people count themselves very lucky to see them at all. Wilder often means more shy. The greatest display of attitude I've seen was from a hind protective towards its young.