The sika rut has reached its peak and the herds are reforming back into separate stag and hind groups. The annual rut of this species is the longest period for any known deer species , here in the UK it lasts from late September to the end of November,and peaks in mid October.The huge herds of this species have been a feature in Purbeck and south Dorset for decades. The species is Cervus nipon, the Japanese subspecies of Sika, slightly smaller than several mainland forms, one of which, the Manchurian sika, was also kept in captivity in Dorset and many individuals are said to have escaped and lived with the Japanese race.One cannot see the characteristics within the usual herds these days but there may be some throwbacks in some herds. The species escaped from Brownsea island in the beginning of the nineteen hundreds.it is good to have them here as they give naturalists and nature lovers alike another dimension to our wildlife and countryside. They live in large herds and love water, living in the Poole harbour reedbeds and surrounding forest. They also live away from this habitat and thrive in damp woodlands and fields. They are the main food for introduced large cat species such as leopard and puma. Both species have lived wild in Britain for perhaps up to a century.The deer also need to be controlled by trained deer management authorities. Many are also poached illegally and many are killed on roads every year. They are beautiful animals and the dawn and dusk bugling of mature stags is very similar to the call of the American Elk.The rutting calls are just as amazing to hear.The species is related to red deer but are smaller with smaller antlers but very stocky. They can interbreed with red deer( cervus Elaphus)but here in Dorset and the New forest they have not done so.
I had this albino hare passed to me, it was found in kent. Indeed a rare animal to behold. Its naturally dark fur is replaced with gray. Its eyes were purple, it was a doe and she was small and of a delicate nature.
