0:00:03 > 0:00:07Scotland is one of the wildest parts of the British Isles
0:00:07 > 0:00:11and world famous for its spectacular scenery.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21This wilderness lies on the fringes of some beautiful historic cities
0:00:21 > 0:00:25which can make for a wonderful wildlife surprise.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Large wild mammals
0:00:34 > 0:00:37are turning up in a city centre.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Roe deer.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Perhaps the last creatures you'd expect to see in town.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03So why are they here
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and how do they survive?
0:01:21 > 0:01:26This is the story of a young couple who set up home in a cemetery.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33What makes them so special
0:01:33 > 0:01:37is that they're much more than passing visitors.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45In fact, they may have lived here all their lives.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58It looks idyllic,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01but in such an urban setting
0:02:01 > 0:02:05can there be a happy ending for this wildlife fairy tale?
0:02:15 > 0:02:19It can't have been the bright lights that brought roe deer into town.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Why would they choose to live surrounded by traffic, not trees?
0:02:34 > 0:02:39Well, perhaps the big attraction is simply that there are no other deer.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Over the past few years,
0:02:45 > 0:02:49the roe deer population has exploded in the countryside.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52More woods and copses have been planted
0:02:52 > 0:02:55and the deer are more protected too.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59As numbers rise, though, there's a problem.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Roe deer are territorial.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05They need their own kingdom.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07As things get crowded,
0:03:07 > 0:03:12new generations have to go further afield to find a home.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18But surely city life is a step too far?
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Some wild animals have settled permanently in our towns.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32Bouncy grey squirrels boldly go wherever they can find a tree.
0:03:38 > 0:03:43And magpies always have a beady eye on their next move.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49This one's busy burying peanuts for a rainy day.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17But they all need to stay alert.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19Danger lurks in the city too.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Foxes may be the enemy,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46but they've got one thing in common with squirrels and magpies
0:04:46 > 0:04:49that helps them cope with urban life.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52They have the cheek and curiosity
0:04:52 > 0:04:56to take advantage of whatever comes their way.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00But has this shy, gentle creature
0:05:00 > 0:05:03got what it takes?
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Roe deer turn out to have some rather special qualities
0:05:08 > 0:05:11that set them apart from other deer.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14For a start, they live alone or sometimes in a pair.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21And rather than relying on grass, they eat a wide variety of food.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26They're vegetarian connoisseurs
0:05:26 > 0:05:30who prefer to pick juicy shoots from different plants and shrubs,
0:05:30 > 0:05:33which makes them more adaptable.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41So roe deer turn out to be better suited to life in the city
0:05:41 > 0:05:44than you might expect.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50In fact, all they need to make themselves at home is good food,
0:05:50 > 0:05:54some shelter and a bit of peace and quiet.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Thanks to the Victorians' veneration of their dead,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04all kinds of wild creatures find a green oasis
0:06:04 > 0:06:06in the centre of this city.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Wilderness is on the doorstep of most Scottish cities.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53They have lots of parks and small green spaces too,
0:06:53 > 0:06:58all of which makes it easier for wildlife to move in.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06So is this city-dwelling pair unique or could they start a trend?
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Locals believe they're twins,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12a brother and sister born here in the cemetery.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21That would make these two very special.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Not only have they survived,
0:07:23 > 0:07:27but they could be the second generation of deer to live here -
0:07:27 > 0:07:30true urbanites.
0:07:32 > 0:07:36So could these two eventually find mates of their own
0:07:36 > 0:07:39and even successfully breed?
0:07:39 > 0:07:43Their parents first showed up soon after the millennium,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46but they've since disappeared.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49After all, city life has many risks.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59But the fact their family has survived
0:07:59 > 0:08:02holds hope for the future.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06This pair are living proof
0:08:06 > 0:08:10that some deer can adapt to city life.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13The best thing we can do to help
0:08:13 > 0:08:15is just leave them alone.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
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