Unusual night observations after a windstorm – beavers, roe deer, tawny owls (Apr 16, 2024)

This night was rather unusual. The species we encountered behaved differently than they behaved over the last week or over the last couple of weeks (but they did not behave in a wholly atypical manner for their species). It appeared to me as if something had disrupted their assumed routine and I will describe my …

Roe deer observation (Apr 12, 2024) – my theory of males protecting pregnant females

In my post which I wrote last year and in which I discussed several observations (Roe deer males – higher parental investment than currently assumed?), I proposed that roe deer males might attempt to protect pregnant females and fawns. One of such strategies, according to my assumptions, entitled drawing the predator's attention from the pregnant female …

Roe deer observation (Apr 6, 2024) – territorial patrolling?

Over the last weeks, roe deer males have been quite vocal, and on Saturday (April 6) I heard a buck barking on his range in the riparian forest over the river from where I was sitting with my dog. There was nothing unusual about this bark. The male was treading through a growth in slightly …

Roe deer observation (Apr 3, 2024) – territorial conflict

This morning I was 'fortunate' (I am not certain it is a proper adjective to describe an even of strife) to overhear a territorial conflict between two roe deer males. I overheard the conflict rather than observed it because: it occurred across the river and slightly upstream where it would have been impossible for me …

Roe deer observation (Mar 27, 2024) – dispersing individual or meeting a giant

Today around 9.30 am we (my dog and I) encountered a roe deer buck who was standing amidst a slope in the riparian forest bordering a hay meadow (the meadow was between the forest and the river although this is rather irrelevant to the incident). It was the largest roe deer buck I have ever …

Roe deer observation (Mar 26, 2024) – territorial pressure

This has been a puzzling morning (see my other post - Hedgehog observation (Mar 26, 2024) – meowing?). I was walking along the roads in the private garden allotment area. It was around dawn (visibility was already quite high). There are two 'main roads' (both dirt roads) connected by smaller roads that also serve as …

Roe deer observations (the week around Mar 20, 2024) – resuming territoriality

Over this week (Mar 18 - 22) I have heard perhaps three roe deer barking incidents which has led me to assume the roe deer are becoming territorial. I believe that the renewal of territorial behaviour is slightly earlier this year (March vs. April) but the weather has been very mild and I have observed …

Roe deer observation (Mar 16, 2024) – fawn still seeking mother’s guidance

On Saturday, March 16, I went for a walk in an area where I typically do not show up during the dawn hours when roe deer activity tends to peak. This time, I had chosen this trail and on a grassland edging a forest, I noticed three roe deer individuals foraging. They were quite close …

Roe deer observations (Feb 20, 21, 2024) – overcoming fences

These two observations concern a small roe deer subpopulation that lives on a 'peninsula' type of area which is located on the convex side of a riverbend (point bar and deeper inland zone) and which is comprised of riparian forests, a few hayfields and private garden allotments. The term 'peninsula' has been applied loosely because …

Two roe deer types – open habitat type vs. forest type

I would like to write down the conclusions drawn over many observations of roe deer in my area. I would also like to note that I made most of these observations prior to discovering the scientific article which led to assumptions that two roe deer species (the European and the Siberian roe deer) might, indeed, …