Keep dogs on leads during deer birthing season, warns Royal Parks’ film
The Royal Parks charity has released a short film reminding people of the vulnerability of does and hinds and their babies during deer birthing season.
The video, filmed in Bushy Park, tells visitors that ‘dogs on leads’ is mandatory from 1 May until the 31 July, to ensure the safety of deer, visitors and their dogs.
Viewers are reminded that mothers are highly protective of their young. Mothers hide their babies in bracken and long grass to conceal them from dogs and other perceived predators. And while deer are instinctively frightened of dogs, mothers will overcome this fear if they believe their young are at risk.
Phil Edwards, Park Manager, Bushy Park said:
“I’ve often heard owners say, ‘but my dog wouldn’t hurt a fly’, yet the truth is that no owner can ever be 100 percent sure how their pet might respond to a frightened deer.
“If a mother feels spooked when she is protecting her babies, even if the dog is at a distance and not acting provocatively, there’s a good chance she will give chase and attack.
“This could quickly escalate to an extremely dangerous situation for anyone nearby, which could be terrifying to witness and could lead to a really awful accident with serious injuries.”
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Dog walkers should avoid the orange areas during deer birthing season -
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Dog walkers should avoid the orange areas during deer birthing season Richmond Park -
Bushy Park
During this sensitive time for the deer, park officials say that the safest option is not to walk your dog in either Richmond Park or Bushy Park. Owners who choose, at their own risk, to walk their dog in Richmond and Bushy Parks during this season must have their dog on a lead, and for their own safety should also be on high alert for female deer.
Phil adds:
“Please respect female deer and give them privacy and space. Avoid long grass and bracken where newly born deer could be concealed and stick to the perimeter of the park in case they need to escape.
“Please never handle newborn deer, under any circumstance. If you spot a young deer on its own, please rest assured that its mother will be grazing nearby and will return to her newborn soon. It might feel helpful to attend to a newborn if it seems to have been abandoned, but sadly any contact could do a lot of harm. Mothers have been known to reject their new offspring if they’ve detected a human scent.”
The Royal Parks charity is currently creating a dedicated deer sanctuary in Bushy Park, within the Warren Plantation, which will be completed by autumn 2025. The sanctuary will provide a quiet refuge for deer and to support a thriving ecosystem, new canopy trees will be planted to provide shade and shelter for the deer and to improve the park’s biodiversity. The enhanced tree cover will also support birds, insects, and small mammals, improve soil health, and contribute to a richer, more diverse ecosystem. In order to protect the deer, this space will not be accessible to visitors or their pets.
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