Deer in the City Wild


Deer in the City

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Scotland is one of the wildest parts of the British Isles

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and world famous for its spectacular scenery.

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This wilderness lies on the fringes of some beautiful historic cities

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which can make for a wonderful wildlife surprise.

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Large wild mammals

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are turning up in a city centre.

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Roe deer.

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Perhaps the last creatures you'd expect to see in town.

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So why are they here

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and how do they survive?

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This is the story of a young couple who set up home in a cemetery.

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What makes them so special

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is that they're much more than passing visitors.

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In fact, they may have lived here all their lives.

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It looks idyllic,

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but in such an urban setting

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can there be a happy ending for this wildlife fairy tale?

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It can't have been the bright lights that brought roe deer into town.

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Why would they choose to live surrounded by traffic, not trees?

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Well, perhaps the big attraction is simply that there are no other deer.

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Over the past few years,

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the roe deer population has exploded in the countryside.

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More woods and copses have been planted

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and the deer are more protected too.

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As numbers rise, though, there's a problem.

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Roe deer are territorial.

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They need their own kingdom.

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As things get crowded,

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new generations have to go further afield to find a home.

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But surely city life is a step too far?

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Some wild animals have settled permanently in our towns.

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Bouncy grey squirrels boldly go wherever they can find a tree.

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And magpies always have a beady eye on their next move.

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This one's busy burying peanuts for a rainy day.

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But they all need to stay alert.

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Danger lurks in the city too.

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Foxes may be the enemy,

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but they've got one thing in common with squirrels and magpies

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that helps them cope with urban life.

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They have the cheek and curiosity

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to take advantage of whatever comes their way.

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But has this shy, gentle creature

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got what it takes?

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Roe deer turn out to have some rather special qualities

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that set them apart from other deer.

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For a start, they live alone or sometimes in a pair.

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And rather than relying on grass, they eat a wide variety of food.

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They're vegetarian connoisseurs

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who prefer to pick juicy shoots from different plants and shrubs,

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which makes them more adaptable.

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So roe deer turn out to be better suited to life in the city

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than you might expect.

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In fact, all they need to make themselves at home is good food,

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some shelter and a bit of peace and quiet.

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Thanks to the Victorians' veneration of their dead,

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all kinds of wild creatures find a green oasis

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in the centre of this city.

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Wilderness is on the doorstep of most Scottish cities.

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They have lots of parks and small green spaces too,

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all of which makes it easier for wildlife to move in.

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So is this city-dwelling pair unique or could they start a trend?

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Locals believe they're twins,

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a brother and sister born here in the cemetery.

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That would make these two very special.

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Not only have they survived,

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but they could be the second generation of deer to live here -

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true urbanites.

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So could these two eventually find mates of their own

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and even successfully breed?

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Their parents first showed up soon after the millennium,

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but they've since disappeared.

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After all, city life has many risks.

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But the fact their family has survived

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holds hope for the future.

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This pair are living proof

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that some deer can adapt to city life.

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The best thing we can do to help

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is just leave them alone.

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Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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E-mail us at: [email protected]

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