Oh look, it’s that time of year again …
The headline states that the stag attacked the human. However the article confirms that the primary issue remains one of humans getting too close …
‘A Tatton Park spokesman said: “The decision was made to close Knutsford gate due to a significant change in the red stags’ behaviour caused by a number of factors, including poor grass growing conditions this year and an abundance of acorns in the wooded areas at the pinch point of the gate, and primarily the continuing issues with humans getting too close’.
The sub headline says the stag was rutting. The article confirms it wasn’t …
“We are seeing a much larger group of up to 25 large stags in this area, double the normal number, and all competing for the acorns that they will gorge on before the rut develops in October.
Again, more efforts to get humans to leave circa 100-200+kg of antlered animal alone …
“Despite all warnings, a large amount of signage, staff being on hand to advise people to avoid the deer, and all efforts to try to re-route people and get them to stop approaching the deer, we have unfortunately had a couple of injuries.”
And this classic sentence expecting the deer to ‘change behaviour’ 🤷♂️. They’re fattening up pre-rut. The species has done this for the 11,000 years they’ve been here. What ‘behavioural changes’ do you want ?
“Until the deer behaviour changes, and crucially the grouping diminishes and the majority move away, health and safety advice has been to fully close this gate for now and reroute cars and pedestrians.”
The antlers (cast in Mar / Apr) are now fully regrown (by Aug / Sept) and shed of velvet. The gorge feeding has started. The rut (aka large amounts of testosterone fuelled antlered male beasts fighting) occurs from mid Sept to early Nov.
How can i put this any simpler:
•Leave them alone
•Use binos or a long camera lens
•Stay at least 100m away from any deer during the rut
•If you don’t, then you risk being trampled or gored.
•Don’t be a dick
‘Tis the season when humans seek to interfere in part of the life cycle of the largest UK land mammal all for Instagram and Facebook likes.
Don’t say you weren’t warned ….
🦌.