Oh deer

Where the fallen, dead silver maple has been chopped up, near post 16 on the self-guided trail, some of the branches lying on the ground have had the bark gnawed off. It could be hungry rabbits, but I think it is more likely to be deer.

 

 

Further evidence of deer is this attack on an apple tree a bit further down the path.  Apple bark is a favoutrite with deer and we have seen this before at Filnore.

 

Of the six free living species of deer in Britain, it is most likely to be Roe Deer in our woods, although Muntjac and Fallow Deer also live locally.  Deer are most active at dawn and dusk. 

 

Last year, just before our 5.00 am Dawn Chorus Walk, Anita saw two fallow deer in the Leisure Centre car park.  They didn't come on our walk though.  Perhaps they were waiting for the swimming pool to open.

 

 

fallow deer - alan spellman, www.mullbirds.com

roe deer - photo of unknown origin