Richmond Park Red Deer Warning.

Im putting this up as there are a lot of casual visitors to Richmond park this time of year, with & without dogs.

There is a serious risk of attacks by the red deer on dogs at the moment, they have been giving birth since late may through June. There really is no such thing as 'keeping a safe distance' from them, I have been told about them going after someone from as much as 200 meters away, I have had my own very unnerving experience of them.

The ponds are a central point for visitors to visit, so do the red deer & I was told on Fri one dog at least has been killed there this year, my suggestion is not to take a dog to richmond or Bushey park unless your aware & well used to the risks there from red deer they will literaly shred it of they attack..

Bushey park, attack attempt on man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_yybqlzjWQ

attack On man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khKrd1RNy2U

Baby deer attack on man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCxaEQVxF7M

On dog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO1fy3yBpbg
.

These are not "new" films - they are library films which go back to 2007!   

These are not "new" films - they are library films which go back to 2007!

......and?
.

.
...........ok, ok! sorry for that, as sign of appeasement & gesture of good will, I present just for you....

Fenton - The Opera,
co starring Buddy of Bushey Park

....enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0L7BxaF7iU
.

good advice hethspaw old videos or not. I think respecting the deer is the way forward

Oh my gosh.  My OH was a hunter, isn't now, came to his senses.  But I loved that second one of the dumb hunter getting stomped.  Eejit. 

Last September I found moose tracks in the bush near us.  A cow and calf walked right down the trail ahead of us, I took photos of their footprints.  And I thought, gee, hope we don't see her, she's liable to go after me or the dog thinking her calf needs defending.  My dog, by the way, who is trained and does respond to calls off wildlife.  Maybe he's just lazy and has learned he can't catch a deer or wild turkey (or ATV or snowmobile).  And his reward is I throw the ball.  BUT, there might be short chase.

Anyway, moose are not that common here so we were pretty careful who we told for fear some redneck would go in a shoot them and there is no moose season here.  Turns out I'm about the only dog walker in this piece of bush who hasn't seen them in real life.  And several dogs have chased them.  I haven't seen any big red splotches on the road so I guess she's still alive.  I hope.

This spring we were over on the Suffolk coast near Minsmere where there is the largest red deer herd in the country. Unlike their Scottish cousins, the deer are not overly afraid of humans and we often see them, in fact one used to come into our holiday homes garden every evening to steal bird food well aware of us sat on the deck watching her.
I was out for a walk on the Heath with the dog and I became aware that a deer hind was walking parallel to me on the other side of some bushes, so I called the dog in and put her on the lead and kept an eye on the deer. She crossed the track behind me, but again kept pace with me. When we arrived at the footpath crossroads, she started to approach, I moved off down the footpath, but it became obvious that she was very unhappy and kept getting closer despite the dog. I guessed she had a calf tucked down nearby so made off in another direction which must have been fine for her as she didn't follow.
She got with about eight feet of me and having watched the vid of the deer attacking, I'm glad I didn't hang about.

Jodie that must have been a scary but equally amazing experience. We "grew up" in Richmond park and wimbledon common. I recall the deer chasing my younger brother from the ferns at one point.  My parents were from Irish farming families and educated us early on about respect for all animals. Including keeping your distance.

the week after my Mum died we went out for a drive in the Sussex / Surrey countryside on a frosty winter morning and a stag stopped us in our tracks. Beautiful and majestic yes. dangerous hell yes!