Biology of Fallow Deer

Fallow deer (Cervus dama)

The fallow deer originally lived only in the Mediterranean lands and the Middle East. It has been introduced to most European countries, North and South America and New Zealand.This medium sized deer stands about 91-97 cm high at the shoulder; males weigh 80-125 kg, females 35-41 kg. The fur colour is highly variable, ranging from reddish brown to almost black and sometimes also white. It is covered with white spots in both young and adult deer. In some individuals the white spots become indistinct in winter, in others they remain visible. In their first years, bucks have spiky antlers, but when they are 3-4 years old they develop antlers with broad, palmate areas. Fallow deer inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands on open, flat or gently rolling terrain. Their food consists of grasses, herbs, leaves, fruits and in winter also the bark of trees. Most activity takes place at dusk and dawn.

Bucks are fully grown at 6 years. In captivity, fallow deer may reach an age of maximum 25 years, in the wild their lifespan is 11-15 years.

Visit http://www.dierinbeeld.nl/animal_files/mammals/deer/#shamanism for more information about deer mythology and other interesting thoughts.

The Clearing Team

Saturday was a fine sunny day and a group of dedicated volunteers headed to the new reserve site to diminish an old farmer's dump and start the process of clearing brush and trees away from the proposed fence line.

Many, many thanks to Rick, Joe, Duncan, Dayna, Luke, Austin, Dylan, Jason, Greg, Ben, Mike, Annie, Wayne and Murph who joined Allan, Jane and Don to help transform the deer's new home to a safe place. With great teamwork, much was accomplished. So far, four loads of metal debris made their way off the land to be recycled and the rest is sorted.

Thanks to Wendy for making us all a great lunch! Thanks to the bucks who showed up to meet the volunteers as part of the "reward" for work well done.

Update: George

March 31, 2007

George is looking very good these days -- just a slight limp. The warm weather is suiting him just fine. We have high hopes that he will make a full recovery!

George got his last dose of anti-inflammatory meds on Tuesday, March 13 and to date seems to be doing as well as expected. The vet predicted that George's condition would deteriorate once meds were stopped. As long as his limp did not go back to what it was in early February, then we could rest assured that the injury was a strain and that nature is slowly taking its course to repair the damage.

Update: George still needing meds

George continues to have problems with his left front leg. The vet, Dr. Brian Willows, paid a visit to the reserve on Tuesday, February 27 to have a look. He told us deerkeepers (Wendy, Don, Jane and Allan) to continue to give him his anti-inflammatory meds once a day for another 10 days and then stop and see if he reverts to the way he walked when we first noticed the injury or there is some improvement. The vet was encouraged by the fact that George is putting weight on the leg and at one point, he actually "pronked" for a few yards.

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If no improvement after we stop the meds, George will have to be tranquilized and examined hands-on. Fortunately, Dr. Willows can bring a mobile x-ray to investigate George's shoulder and leg joints at the reserve. It appears to be a severe strain which can take 6 weeks or more to heal, but it also could be that something has lodged in his hoof. Dr. Willows did not see any swelling to indicate this. In the meantime, we are doing our best to keep George and the rest of the herd as calm as possible.

George on the Mend

Last week George was having trouble with his front left leg, limping and not making it to feeding time which, as you might guess, is a sure sign that all is not well.Wendy contacted Dr. Willows at Thousand Island Vets and Don drove to Gananoque to discuss the limp with the vet. He felt it was likely a sprain, not a break or dislocation and it probably occurred when George slipped on ice or was butted by another deer. An anti-inflammatory medication was prescribed for at least once a day for 10 days.

This is the first time we have tried to give one of the bucks any medicine and it has been an "adventure". We mix the powder with juice in a hollowed out portion of a small apple.

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It then takes at least 3 of us and much experimentation to figure out how to get the meds just to George without re-injuring him. We have to practise patience to wait for George to come to us rather than going towards him. The rest of the herd seems to get easily spooked to see so many of us at once, and they will all head back to the trees at the far end of the reserve which is a long journey for a deer with a bum leg.

One person feeds apples and carrots to the herd trying to direct them away from George as he limps in. Another person concentrates on feeding EGee who sometimes likes to butt George if he thinks that he's getting the lion's share of the goodies. The third person sees to it that George gets his special medicated apples and is able to keep clear of the other bucks. Each person has a medicated apple just in case George comes close by.

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Some days George doesn't show up and can't be seen. One day George and Buddy were "lost" so Allan and Wendy trekked through deep snow to the outer edges to try to find him. When they came back to the barn, exhausted, both deer were hanging out near the barn as if they had been there forever!

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Yesterday was day 6 and we hope to finish up the medication drill on Sunday. Happily George's condition is improving daily, he is moving with a slight limp now despite the deep and drifting snow and very cold temperatures. He asked me to thank Dr. Willows and all the people who have helped in the somewhat crazy "get-the-meds-into-George" dance including Allan, Wendy, Don, Jane, Bruce, Miesje and Melody.

Did you hear the good news?

The purchase of the new site of the Fallow Deer Reserve was completed on January 17, 2007.

Max was happy to hear the news and to get a sneak preview (via photo) of the herd's new home. Our 13 bucks will take up permanent residence here in June, after a 10+ acre fence is installed and as soon as each has lost his antlers and before velveting begins. The colder weather has the herd eating hay now in addition to apples, corn and carrots. Recently we tried them on pumpkin which some of them enjoyed, too.

There is much planning and work to be done but we are happy to report that this major hurdle has been crossed and duly celebrated by the deerkeepers!

Grass is green and calendars are on the way

Happy 2007 everyone. We are happy to report that the bucks are still grazing on the green grass that continues to appear in the wet areas of the reserve. And they are all putting on weight which is unusual for wintertime. So far, they aren't that interested in hay but, of course, continue to love the corn, apples and carrots that they get every few days.

Deerkeepers are busy with plans for the fencing on the new site in the Wilton area which will provide the bucks with natural shelter, pasture and quiet.

If you have ordered a calendar, rest assured we just got notice that they have been shipped and should be here this week. Sorry for the delay.