Deer birthing season in Bushy Park
Visitors in Bushy and Richmond Park have started to notice the change in doe behaviour in the last week, this is due to birthing season when female deer feel that they have to protect the young and nursery areas (where bracken will or has already grown).
There have been two incidents already in Bushy Park where dog walkers have been charged by deer and unfortunately one in Richmond Park that led to a dog being trampled to death.
Royal Parks always remind park users that although deer are mostly very docile during other times of the year, during birthing (May-July) and rutting seasons (September-October) they behave very differently. Royal Parks now advise that dogs are walked outside of the park during these times.
General advice to park users is to always keep 50 metres away from deer, in addition, dog-walkers should keep a much longer distance even when dogs are on the lead and well-behaved. If a dog is charged, its best chance of escaping unharmed is actually to drop the lead so it can run away to safety.
