Sika calving

[NickJ]

Reports in of a 'few days old' sika calf on May 1st in Dorset and a 'couple of days old' one on 7th May here in the Forest of Bowland. That's 10 days earlier than any I have noted here at least, any one else seen a calf yet?

Obviously sika have a longer rut than the other UK species but, in my experience it tends to be 'drawn out' more than an earlier start i.e. late calves rather than early ones (I've seen newborn calves in September and heard of later)

Certainly roe seem early this year with their kids to date

I have inputted to the BDS survey on earlier calving dates as per UK Deer Birth Dates Survey

 

[rem284]

I have noticed a greater increase in variation in sizes of calves over the past 2 decades. So I do think the rut is stretching both ways

 

[tattie]

Sika calves seen on 19th and 27th April on a local estate and calves also being seen in the last week to ten days in Assynt.

 

[NickJ]

I have noticed a greater increase in variation in sizes of calves over the past 2 decades. So I do think the rut is stretching both ways

Interesting, thanks. You Argyll?

 

[rem284]

Yep