{"id":36892,"date":"2024-05-07T18:21:35","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T16:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/013f0768-9170-47b7-9259-70fcb362686f"},"modified":"2024-05-07T22:39:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T20:39:21","slug":"muntjac-guide-meet-the-strange-barking-deer-with-fangs","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/muntjac-guide-meet-the-strange-barking-deer-with-fangs\/","title":{"rendered":"Muntjac guide: meet the strange barking deer with fangs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Curious about these charming creatures? Our guide offers a glimpse into the world of secretive muntjac deer <\/p>

By <\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 07 May 2024 at 16:21 PM<\/p>

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Mammal ecologist and author, Adele Brand, reveals the secret world of this enigmatic – and sometimes problematic – member of the deer family<\/strong><\/p>

What is a muntjac?<\/h2>
Both male and female muntjacs are diminutive deer. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Often likened to the size of a small dog, muntjac deer are around 50cm (19in) tall at shoulder height. <\/p>

Given their compact, robust size, they’re perfectly design to slip through the landscape: deer that are small enough to squeeze through fences, economical enough to survive in slivers of woodland and verge. It is likely that they are nearby more often than any of us know.<\/p>

Muntjacs are primarily solitary and inhabit dense forests, where they forage for vegetation and occasionally small animals. They are considered an invasive species in some regions due to their ability to adapt to various habitats, their significant apetite and ability to reproduce rapidly.<\/p>

Where are muntjac deer from?<\/h2>

This tiny, hunch-backed deer has the physique to slip through the dense leafy mesh of subtropical forests of its Asian homeland, and shows its skill in the British landscape too, leaving footprints barely the size of two human thumbnails in its wake.<\/p>

Also known as Reeves\u2019 muntjac, which refers to John Russell Reeves (1774\u20131856), an employee of the East India Company who sent specimens back to England when he lived in China.<\/p>

When were muntjac deer introduced to the UK?<\/h2>

Initially brought over to estates for ornamental purposes, muntjac were released into Woburn Park in 1901, which has had significant repercussions on woodland habitats in the south of England, where they thrive. <\/p>

Where do muntjac live?<\/h2>
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Muntjac have made themselves very at home in the UK. Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Here in the UK they can be found in woodland areas, parks, and gardens.<\/p>

How to identify a muntjac deer<\/h2>

They are known for their small size, stocky build, and distinctive appearance, including short antlers and a ginger-brown coat with a pale underside.<\/p>

Keep an eye out at dawn and dusk when they’re most active and, of course, listen out for their distinctive call.<\/p>

What noise does a muntjac deer make?<\/h2>

Short, hoarse, like a fox with a sore throat, a muntjac’s bark can indicate alarm as well as courtship. In fact, they are sometimes called the ‘barking deer’ for obvious reasons.<\/p>