Deer rutting season is now underway in Richmond and Bushy Parks.

This means that from late September to early November, male deer compete for females, displaying dramatic behaviours such as bellowing and locking antlers.

The Royal Parks has joined forces with the RSPCA (England & Wales) and The British Deer Society - Official to launch a safety campaign for this year's autumn rut, warning visitors in parks such as Bushy and Richmond Parks about the serious dangers of getting too close to deer.



The joint safety campaign follows a serious incident in Richmond Park in August, when a stag attacked a man after approaching his picnic.

More information about the campaign can be found here.

Richmond and Bushy Parks collectively are home to over 900 free roaming red and fallow deer.

Thus, The Royal Parks warns visitors of both parks to keep 50m minimum from the deer during the rut season and for dog walkers to either take their four-legged friends to different parks or keep them on a lead.

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