Suffolk Naturalists' Society Deer Survey

SUFFOLK NATURALISTS' SOCIETY DEER SURVEY IN 1963 it was obvious that the Grey Squirrel was beginning to spread into Suffolk, so the Suffolk Naturalists' Society undertook a survey in order to show the then known distribution of both Red and Grey Squirrels in the County. Members of the Society, landowners, farmers, and many others co-operated and the results were published in the Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society Vol. 13 pp. 82-85. It is now proposed to undertake a similar survey of the Deer population of the County and the Society would be grateful if members and others interested would send reports of deer to either of the two recorders:— EAST SUFFOLK

The Earl of Cranbrook Red House Farm, Great Glemham, Saxmundham.

WEST

SUFFOLK

W. H. Payn, Härtest Place, Bury St. Edmunds.

Four species of deer are known to occur in the County: two, Red Deer and Muntjac, are easily distinguished but the other two, Fallow and Roe Deer, can be mistaken, the one for the other.

Dead bodies of either are easily recognized but it is difficult to distinguish between the two in the wild.

RED DEER. Large, stag about 3' 6" at the withers with distinct mane on the throat, large branched antlers; hind about 3' with more slender, maneless neck and no antlers. The stags shed their antlers between February and April and these start to grow again in May being fully developed July to August.

Colour varies from red to dark or greyish brown: hinds usually redder than stags.

ROE DEER. Smaller, both sexes about 2' at the withers, stags with short, 6" to 8", three-pointed horns. Coat foxy red in the summer, grey in the winter. Tail very short scarcely noticeable on yellowish white rump patch. Bounds away if disturbed.

Usually solitary, sometimes in pairs.

FALLOW DEER. Both sexes about 2 ' 6" at withers, bucks with largish palmated antlers, grown June to August and shed in April.

Colour variable, usually chestnut and spotted in the summer, darker in the winter with spots scarcely noticeable, but creamcoloured and black varieties not uncommon. Long tail visible as black line down white rump patch. Bounds away if disturbed.

Usually in small parties.

394 Transactions of the Suffolk Naturalists',

Vol. 16, Part 6

MUNTJAC. Small, both sexes less than 2 ' at centre of rounded back. Males have very short two-pointed horns mounted on long hairy pedicles which form ridges down between the eyes: main weapon canine teeth which protrude from upper jaw outside lips.

Foxy red in summer, grey in winter: tail short but obvious on white rump patch. Runs with head held low, does not bound away.

Solitary.

Two species of Muntjac, Indian Muntiacus muntjac and Chinese M. reevesii, were released at Woburn by the late Duke of Bedford and have spread widely. If possible the skin and skull of specimens obtained should be sent to one or other of the recorders for identification.

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