Deer seen in the South Loch Ness area and the Highlands of Scotland.
The main species of deer seen in the area are Red, Roe and Sika. The red and roe are the only truly native species to this country. Sika deer were introduced into Britain from the Far East in about 1860.
The Red deer is our largest land mammal with a plain reddish brown coat and the stag has well developed branched antlers, the number of branches increasing with age with up to 16 points in mature animals – the ‘Monarch of the Glen’. While red deer are resident all year round, they tend to spend the summer up in the hills and remote glens moving down to lower levels in the winter where food is more readily available. The best time to see and hear them is during the annual rut each autumn. They can be heard at Aspenwood from the hills on the other side of Loch Ness. We saw this magnificent red deer stag on the hill top as we journeyed to Fort Augustus last May fiercely guarding his family of hinds and gave a few warning stamps and snorts.
The Roe deer is the most attractive looking deer and is slightly smaller with a reddish brown coat in the summer changing to a darkish brown or grey colour in the winter. It has short antlers of about 30cms with three points on each and rather large ears. It does not form herds but is seen singly or in groups of just 2 or 3.
Sika deer are intermediate in size between red and roe deer. They have a reddish brown to yellow brown coat with a dark dorsal stripe surrounded by white spots in the summer. Their winter coat is dark grey to black with faint spots and the head appears narrow and pointed compared to other deer species. The tail is shorter and sika deer are easily recognized by the distinctive white heart shaped patch on their rump. When alarmed this white area can double in size. Males have antlers which are narrow and poorly branched and are shed in April.
Sika and roe deer will be seen regularly very near to Aspenwood Cottage and will trigger off the outside security lights for a while as they wander round looking for tasty things to eat. They are as curious about you as you will be about them so they are not easily alarmed. Please respect the fact that you are in ‘their’ garden.
There are numerous herds of rather scruffy wild deer roaming about in the less well known and accessible parts of the Highlands – you just have to get out in the car and explore. When we explored the less inhabited west coast and visited some of the inland and sea lochs the views were amazing and the wildlife aplenty – all a day trip away from the cottage.
On the back road to Daviot in the hamlet of Aberarder you will pass Woodside Cottage and if you look into the enclosed garden area you should see a lovely doe. We often wondered how the deer came to be here and wrote to the owners. They kindly replied with her story.
T
he story of Bonnie the deer.
A tiny 2 day old deer was found beside her dead mother on the hillside in the forest nearby and the keeper took her home. She was fed with lambs milk in a baby's bottle and was very nervous. The owners devoted a lot of time and TLC to her. When she was weaned she was put out with the other wild deer calves hoping that she would be accepted and mothered by another adult deer back ‘in the wild’. Three times she returned to the house where she has now lived for the past 11 years in her special 'home' in their large garden. She is now very tame and bossy at times to their dogs. She loves shortbread and crisps and is thoroughly spoilt. Look out for her in the garden of Woodside Cottage on your way to Inverarnie or Daviot to join the A9. She will come running over when called by her name and loves a stroke on her nose.
She will come running over when called by her name.
