The Roe Deer is the next culprit in our Wildlife Strikes Back series. Apparently the Buck’s (Males) are rutting and a response to this period is to rub their antlers (which can also be itchy) on trees or shrubs etc. This rubbing action strips the bark of young trees, and in our case, one of our Leylandi.
Well we appear to have rather been overrun with Rabbits at the moment! We throw the curtains back in the morning and there they are all are, munching our trees and digging holes in the grass.
Talking to our neighbours there does appear to be more than usual this year, just our luck. There are not many options for protecting yourself against these fluffy bunny pests. The favoured option by the land owners around here seems to be to shoot them!
The first of ‘The Wildlife Strikes Back’ is the Leaf Beetle Chrysomelidae! They are actually very pretty to look at, ranging from black to petrol in colour. However, the damage they cause is far from pretty. They have some what mullered the Prunus’ (Ornamental Cherries).
Eeekk! The Wildlife is striking back…from Rabbits, to Leaf Beetles and Roe Deer they are all having a go!!
More to follow when I have time to prep the pictures of mass destruction 
Ok, that was a terrible title, but I just wanted to say we spotted our biggest wildlife visitors to Waterloo Farm yet, a pair of Roe Deer, Capreolus capreolus.
They were far too quick and startled to hang around for a picture, but as I hope to photograph as many species of wildlife as possible on the Farm, I can see a few early mornings out deer stalking with my camera.
Our super Wildlife book, Collins Complete Guide to British Wildlife, tells me that that they hang around in pairs, and can become quite bold with humans if they are not persecuted. So who knows, we may even end up with our very own Bambi!
