Formby resident thrilled to catch four Roe Deer on video running through the wild grass in Formby

Formby resident was thrilled to see four Roe Deer running through the wild grass in Formby this morning, Monday 22nd November.

Chris Dutch was sat at the top of Devils Hole (The Great Valley at the back of Range High School), looking east and watching the sunrise when he seen them. Chris said: “We were buzzing when we saw them! We headed straight down to film them.”

Here is the video…

Well done to Chris for capturing this amazing video for us all to see. Absolutely beautiful.

Photos and video captured by Chris Dutch

The Roe Deer have probably come from the Altcar Army base which is located in Hightown and is a 620-acre (250 ha) site that is composed of beaches, marshland, fields and small woods. This is right next to where Chris saw them.

This isn’t the first time that deer have been seen in Formby. Last time they were seen on the beach by the squirrel reserve…

A Roe Deer on Formby Beach

When Sue and Mal Robertson with their Grandson Adam went for a walk down to Formby beach back in 2015, they couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted a deer stood right in front of them on the sand. As they took a couple of photos, it was just to the side of them before running away. Read their full story here…

Formby Beach is home to Deer

The Roe Deer:

The Roe Deer is a small deer, reddish brown in summer, grey in winter. Distinctive black moustache stripe, white chin. Appears tail-less with white/cream rump patch which is especially conspicuous when its hairs are puffed out when the deer is alarmed. Males have short antlers, erect with no more than three points.

The roe is one of the truly native deer of the British Isles, the other being the red deer. Records of them date to before the Mesolithic period (6000 to 10000 years BC).

Today, roe deer are abundant throughout the British Isles. They are strongly associated with woodlands and have increased in both population and distribution with the increase in woodland planting in the 20th century and strategic reintroductions in Victorian times. Previously, roe deer suffered almost catastrophic decline due to over-hunting and deforestation. Roe deer are not found in Northern Ireland.

Roe deer are particularly associated with the edges of woodlands and forests. They are also found in areas with copses, scrub and hedgerows and use agricultural fields in these areas too. They are increasingly entering areas closer to our towns and cities as they take advantage of more urban habitats.

Roe deer are often seen as both a positive and negative influence in the countryside. They can cause damage to young woodlands and agricultural crops through browsing, however many landowners and rural industries utilise the stalking of roe deer and the sale of venison as a substantial supplementary financial income. It is now essential to balance the needs of a sustainable healthy population of roe deer with those of the environment.

Have you caught any wild animals on camera at Formby Beach or in the Pinewoods. If you have, we would love to see the photos. Just send them to info@formbybubble.com