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dispersing more and colonising fresh areas.
Red
The survey discovered that in the main red
deer were restricted to the north west of
the county with the exception of young males
which were encountered from Maldon through
Southend to Thurrock. That situation still
exists today.
Herds have occasionally been seen numbering
20+ but this is exceptional and rarely seen.
I have no evidence of breeding in any
location other than the same wood as 10 years
ago. More young stags are being reported
which may be indicative of successful
breeding and dispersal. There were several
reports from south east Essex in 1985 and
there was also a stag killed on the A.12 at
Brentwood; a few years earlier one had been
seen at South Weald. I have also received
a vague report of a hind in the Maldon area;
the same area where a semi-tame stag roamed
20 years ago. Red stags are known as great
travellers, but not the hinds.
Although red only have a small part of the
county colonised, I am not concerned for
their survival and expect them to spread
slowly in the north and north west, where
the habitat is more favourable.
Roe
Roe were only just recorded in Essex in 1977
and it is sad to report that they still only
maintain a precarious toe-hold in the north
west. The survey confirmed their presence
in the county and since then breeding has
been recorded. Having said that, they are