Humane dispatch
Tragically called every week to more and more deer hit and injured on the Sussex roads.
More Humane dispatch
Another two fallow bucks hit by cars in last two days. Please remain vigilant !🦌
Humane Dispatch
Called out today to dispatch a Roe Buck sadly injured in a Deer Vehicle Collision.
Injured Buck.
Fallow Damage
Heavy populations of deer prevent young trees from growing as demonstrated by this stunted holly.
Fallow Cull
The Fallow deer cull is well under way now. Deer numbers are at an all time high.
Deer impact assessment carried out for a landowner recently.
Essential to monitoring long term deer damage and population.
February Doe Cull Continues
The fallow Doe cull continues, but with the Fallow becoming increasingly skittish as the season progresses, this can be a difficult time for the deer manager.
Fallow Doe Cull
Since Nov 1st Fallow Does have been in season and we have been culling on several farms where deer damage and environmental impact is high.
Re absorbed fawn
Out stalking this morning and came accross a fallow doe with a badly broken leg. After some time I was able to confirm she was barren with no fawn. She was humanely culled and on examination it was discovered that she had re absorbed the fawn in her uterus to help heal her fractured leg .
Fallow Bucks in Season
The 1st of August spells the start of the fallow buck season. We shall be out attempting to cull some of the younger bucks in the coming weeks to reduce the population prior to the doe cull which commences in November.
High Seats
With the fallow deer season fast approaching, it is the time to get out and check over the high seats. They may need a little TLC and will certainly need the undergrowth cut back to allow a good field of view.
More road victims
ESDM were called out to deal with another injured deer this week at Danehill. A young male Fallow had been struck by a car and had died of its injuries before arrival. Two dead fawns were spotted lying in the road at separate locations. Be ready for deer and slow down on country roads.
June
The second week of June is when Fallow Does generally start fawning. They will separate from other deer and find a secluded spot to give birth. The fawn will be left, often in long grass for hours at a time while the doe feeds elsewhere.
At this time the fawn is without scent and so is less vulnerable to predatory foxes and badgers. Sadly however a number of fawns are killed by farmers cutting hay and silage crops.
If you find a fawn LEAVE it well alone, as its mother is sure to return to suckle it.
Deer impact assessment
Out this week examining deer impact within a woodland. Observed fraying of bark, heavy browsing and long term damage to the woodland structure.
Note the obvious browse line on these trees.
ESDM have compiled a Deer Management Plan for this wood.
Deer Injured following Collision.
ESDM were called out by Kent Police yesterday to humanely dispatch a severely injured Fallow deer following a Road Traffic Collision. Sadly this is extremely common in the South East his area with East Sussex being the national hotspot.
Visit the Deer Collisions Project to find out more information.
http://www.deercollisions.co.uk
Deer Damage
Out today assessing a wood for deer impact. Note the difference in vegetation between the fenced and unfenced area.
An exclusion plot
Ground flora suffering as a result of high Fallow deer numbers.
Browse line on Holly
Here the Fallow have browsed heavily on the holly tree.
May
During May Fallow Does are into their second month of their close season giving them the peace they need to fawn during the coming weeks. Fallow Bucks are casting their antlers now and in the first month of their three month close season. So if you are lucky you may find an antler or two if you are out in the fields and woods.
Roe Bucks are in season until the 1st August and are now in hard antler having been in velvet since late October. Roe fawns are due within the next few weeks.
Roe Doe among the Bluebells