Muntjac Deer Muntiacus Reevesi
History
The Reeves Muntjac are an invasive species that do not naturally occur in the UK, originally the larger and more aggressive Indian Muntjac was introduced to Woburn Abbey Deer Park by The 11th Duke of Bedford at the start of the 20th century. In the early 1900’s the Woburn Estates resident rat catching terrier was killed during an encounter with an Indian Muntjac, the decision was then made to eradicate the Indian Muntjac to make way for the smaller less aggressive Reeves Muntjac. Shortly afterwards deliberate releases of the Reeves Muntjac occurred on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, three sites in Northamptonshire, two in Oxfordshire, two in Warwickshire and one in Hertfordshire. In recent times Muntjac have been given a helping hand and have been translocated into the countryside many many miles away from their home range. In the not too distant future the Muntjac deer will be the most plentiful deer in the UK, perhaps being in every county in England and Wales in the next 10 years.
Muntjac Require careful, professional Management and Control.
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Muntjac - Appearance
Reeves muntjac are the smallest species of deer found in the UK. Their colouration varies greatly from summer to winter. In the summer they are a ginger reddish brown whereas in winter they are a dull greyish brown.
Muntjac have a short legged stocky appearance, their rear legs are slightly higher than the front legs which makes them looked hunched over.
Muntjac have fairly long and wide tails which are white on the underside. When muntjac are disturbed they tend to run off with their tails erect which looks almost like a white flag, this is to warn other deer of the danger they have detected.
Muntjac Buck
Male muntjac known as a buck, a mature specimen is between 44 and 52cm at the shoulder and weigh 10 to 18kg.
Like most deer species only the males (bucks) carry antlers. A mature buck will have antlers up to 10cm long which are single spikes that usually hook slightly backwards towards the tip, sometimes bucks will also have small brow tines no more than 1-2cm long. Muntjac antlers grow out of the skull from long pedicles that are covered in ginger fur, the pedicles have black stripes running towards their muzzle in a “V” shape, muntjac are the only species in the UK that have such and appearance so are rarely confused with other deer. The bucks have significant upper canine teeth called tusks, does also have small tusks but are rarely visible. Muntjac bucks use their tusks when they fight fearlessly for territory and for the right to breed, it is very commonplace to see bucks with ragged tatty ears and scars to the face and neck following an encounter with other bucks.
Muntjac Doe
Female muntjac known as a doe, they are slightly smaller at the shoulder than the bucks being between 42cm and 50cm. An adult doe weighs an average of 10kg but large does have been recorded at weights of as much as 16kg, although a doe of this weight would be unusual. A muntjac doe is similar in appearance to the buck but lack the antlers and furry pedicles. Muntjac does like the bucks have a ginger forehead but with diamond shaped black markings.
Muntjac Behaviour
Muntjac generally are a solitary animal so do not form herds like other deer species. Muntjac are commonly seen in pairs of an adult buck and doe, they only really pair up when the doe is in season (oestrus). Both sexes of muntjac are territorial, but in particular the bucks. The bucks territories overlap the home ranges of several does. Muntjac does tolerate each other to a degree, but attempt to maintain an exclusive area to themselves and their young.
Muntjac Scent Marking and the Damage They Do
Muntjac have two pairs of scent glands on the face which are used to mark their territories, the sub orbital glands which are just below the eyes are easily visible. Both glands are used to mark their territories and boundaries, the deer rub their heads on trees and shrubs to transfer their scent. The muntjac deer scent marking behaviour damages the trees, the bucks do most damage as their antlers clash with the bark which can stunt growth or even kill saplings.
Muntjac Vocalisation
Muntjac deer are a very vocal species and can be heard barking from great distances, both sexes bark for a number of different reasons and for this fact are often known as the “barking deer”. An alarmed mature muntjac produce a dog like bark which close up can sound like an eerie scream. The babies which are known as a kid also vocalise which sounds like a squeak or pip, the mother will also communicate using similar noises with their young.
Muntjac Habitat
Muntjac favour deciduous woodland with a thick understorey, in areas where muntjac are present that also have an abundance of brambles you are likely to have large numbers of muntjac. Even in areas that do not have mature broadleaf woodland or brambles you may still find muntjac. A thick hedgerow, a small copse, railway and road embankments can all surprisingly support muntjac good populations.
Muntjac Activity
Muntjac deer are most active at dawn, dusk and during periods of darkness. Although in areas where muntjac are not disturbed by human activity they will be active throughout the day especially if they have heavy and thick vegetation to stay within.
Muntjac Feeding Habits
When on the hoof muntjac are almost always on the move feeding as they go. Muntjac preferred food are tender plants therefore destroying newly planted shrubs and trees, if they find their way into a garden they will decimate flowers, plants and vegetable patches. They are a serious problem in areas that hold beautiful and indigenous wild flowers such as bluebells, honeysuckle, orchids, primroses and oxlips.
After feeding muntjac lay up in cover and ruminate which is also known as “chewing the cud” much like cattle and sheep do.
Muntjac Breeding
The other 5 species of deer that occur in the UK breed seasonally whereas the Muntjac has no breeding season. Muntjac originally came from a subtropical region of the world which allowed them to breed all year round, when they were introduced to England their breeding habits remained, for this reason muntjac kids are born anytime throughout the year. Muntjac kids are born after a gestation of 30 weeks rarely do they have multiple births, only a handful of reports of twins have been recorded.
Within hours of giving birth the doe comes into heat, this is when the bucks will fight for the right to breed with the doe. A muntjac doe is sexually mature at a mere age of 7 months, she will be almost permanently pregnant from for the rest of her life. Does are often seen with their latest kid, sometimes but certainly not always also the grown-on kid from the previous birth. Does will on average give birth to 3 kids every 2 years, there is no surprise that muntjac numbers have increased and have spread throughout the UK so rapidly.
Muntjac Antler Formation
Muntjac bucks from around 6 months of age start developing antlers regardless of when in the year he was born, the antlers are initially covered in a soft black woolly skin called velvet, they start shedding the velvet at around 15 months of age to reveal their first set of hard antlers. The bucks antlers fall off or “cast” every year, this happens as early as late April for older bucks, the majority of bucks cast in May and fall into this cycle year after year.