New film highlights safety during deer rutting season in Richmond and Bushy Parks
The Royal Parks charity, which manages London’s eight Royal Parks, has released a new film to help visitors stay safe during the annual deer rutting season in Richmond Park and Bushy Park.
From late September to early November, male deer compete for females, displaying dramatic behaviours such as bellowing and locking antlers. While this is a natural and important part of the deer’s life cycle, stags can weigh more than 25 stone and run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, making them highly dangerous if visitors get too close.
The film provides clear guidance on keeping a safe distance, understanding deer behaviour, and taking care with dogs, helping to ensure both visitors and wildlife remain safe.
Paul Richards, Park Manager at Richmond Park, said:
“This film is first and foremost about safety. Every year, we see visitors getting far too close to the deer.
"The rut is a fascinating natural event, but please don’t forget these are wild animals, pumped full of testosterone and can be unpredictable.
“This film underlines that message. We urge visitors to keep their distance so that they can observe the season safely.”
Phil Edwards, Park Manager at Bushy Park, added:
“Our advice is simple: keep at least 50 metres away from the deer - and even further if they are active. We strongly recommend that visitors keep their dogs on leads, as dogs can give chase and distressed deer may bolt, risking an uncontrolled stampede.
“Never place yourself between two rutting stags, as they can be unpredictable and dangerous. This new film is a reminder that by respecting the deer, we can keep visitors, pets and the animals themselves safe.”
Volunteer Rangers will regularly roam Bushy Park and Richmond Park throughout the rutting season to offer advice and answer questions about deer behaviour.
The new deer safety film can be viewed below:
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