It’s that time of year again …
In the Gaelic calendar, the 20th September is traditionally ‘Bhuiridh’, the ‘Day of the Roaring’ as the stags begin vocal challenges to rivals.
If you find yourself near males that urinate on their own legs, puff their chests out and bellow at women …. and it’s not a Saturday night in Wetherspoons, read on …
Deer are iconic beasts of the moors – the largest land mammal in the UK – and September and October of each year is their mating season which is called the rut.
As deer move around the landscape before and during the rut the chances of meeting them in your vehicle increases – particularly at dawn and dusk. Please take extra care driving at these times.
During the rut mature male deer (stags) compete for the attentions of the females (hinds) and will then try to defend the hinds they attract. They put weight on, their necks swell, they urinate a mix of urine and semen on to their legs, and they rollin mud and collect foliage on their antlers to increase their attractiveness to the hinds and make themselves look more fearful to other stags. Rival stags challenge opponents through noise (belling) and walking in parallel to size up an opponent. If neither stag backs down, a clash of antlers can occur, and stags will occasionally be injured or killed in the ensuing fight.
We encourage visitors to enjoy watching the rut but please remember to give the deer space to behave normally and naturally.
Please follow these simple guidelines and you will be able to enjoy watching and photographing them in safety:
•Keep your distance! Do not approach any deer to within closer than 50m, and stay at least 100m away from rutting deer.
•Be inconspicuous – use binoculars for close up viewing and use zoom on a camera to keep yourself well away from the rut.
•If there are a large number of people present, do not surround the deer as it may make them nervous. Always leave them an open line of retreat if they need it.
•Take extra special care not to intrude on any rutting male deer which may be fighting, roaring, displaying or otherwise defending their hinds.
•We recommend keeping all dogs well away from the rut. If you must have your dog with you, keep it on a short lead and under close control.
•If a deer starts walking parallel to you and or glancing at you out of the corner of its eye, it is a sign that it may be considering you as a threat – move away slowly and safely and leave the deer well alone. Do not shout or wave at the deer.
•If a ranger or warden asks you to move away from the deer rut this is for your safety, please comply with their request.
The rut is a seasonal spectacle to watch and hear on the moors but please remember that stags are wild animals that can reach 200kg and stand more than 1.5m tall. Whilst fuelled by testosterone during the rut their behaviour needs to be observed from a safe and respectful distance.
Mind how you go.
