Roe Deer

Description:

The summer coat of reddish brown turning is turning dark for winter. No antlers on this one.

Habitat:

Askham Bog in Yorkshire (very close to the town of York). Part of the bog is maintained by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT)as a nature reserve. We had stopped at a red light and I read out the sign...and we saw that YWT was maintaining it. On this trip I have been really impressed by the number of woodland type areas that YWT is maintaining and it was a spontaneous decision to explore...we did not have much time...there are two large areas to cross before you come to the bog proper but we got to see some wildlife.We were on the designated path and the deer was partially hidden in the vegetation. we stared at each other for a brief while, two kids came along and the solitary deer drifted silently deeper into the woods.

Notes:

Roe deer are native to Britain, having been here since before the Mesolithic period (6,000-10,000 years ago). Habitat loss and over-hunting led to their extinction in England by 1800 but not in Scotland. Several re-introductions during Victorian times, and their subsequent natural spread, aided by an increase in woodland and forest planting in the 20th century, has led to an increase in the population.