Tags
animals in Ninewells wood, Catbrook wood, Dogging in Ninewells wood, Ninewells Wood, Roe Deer in Monmouthshire, The Deer Initiative, Trail cameras, Welsh woodland
Last year between 2nd and the 9th May the Deer Initiative had a trail camera in Catbrook wood. During that time it took 240 shots.
**** PLEASE NOTE THERE ARE NO CAMERAS IN THE WOOD ANYMORE AS THEY WERE STOLEN SOMTIME IN MARCH 2016**** (I do not know if this blog directed the thief to my wood but possibly better in retrospect not to have mentioned them)
Here are just a few. First of all the Fox which was the commonest visitor during that time, being captured ‘on film’ at all times of the day and night.
Second commonest was the grey squirell.
The rabbit appeared quite often and because the exact time that the picture is taken is recorded I can tell that he only narrowly missed seeing the fox on some occasions.
Deer appeared at various times both day and night and there were both Roe deer, seen here with antlers, Red deer and Fallow deer.
Also Red deer first this is a night time shot.
And Fallow Deer, here two passing through in daytime.
There were lots of photos where nothing could be seen but these were presumably triggerd by something quite small like mice, voles or small birds.
There was one visit by a Wood pigeon and a cat went by one night.
All this in just 7 days and in one corner of the wood. The fox seemed to be back and forth all the time, following the same path each time.
I was surprised not to see any dogs and only one cat. No humans made an appearance.
I will have a close look at the photos where nothing large was present to see if I can detect what set the camera off, maybe be as I said mice or voles. It could be a couple of doggers in the distance, who knows?
See the original post about the Deer Initiative
Ninewells Wood 
Great to see these shots of deer. The night time shot is a Red stag, antlers recently cast and new ones growing. It is fantastic to see thes native species, Red and Roe deer back in this area after centuries of absence. Be wary of the Deer Initiative, I don’t believe they have the best interests of deer at heart. Be even more wary of NRW. They have a shoot on sight policy for all deer species and Wild Boar. This might be justified for alien species eg, Muntjac and Sika, Fallow debatable, but for indigenous Roe and Red deer this must not be allowed to continue in contravention of European Native Species directives. There are not enough Red and Roe in this area yet to justify regular culling. Watch out as well for illegal shooters, poachers in general and semi legal opportunists. Phone me for for further info or if you suspect poaching.
Cheers, David Lucas. Wye Valley Deer Protection Group
01291 650750
Thanks for all that, I was aware that the deer initiative was monitoring deer populations and the effects they have on the countryside, but was not sure to what end the information was being put.
Recently no deer in my bit of woodland, however something small has eaten nearly all the hazel nuts I planted. I am just about to do a blog on that problem.