What Droppings?

[Broch]

Any mammal droppings experts out there?

My suspicion is that this is Muntjac and, if so, will be the first we have had in the wood and will necessitate me adjusting my management plan. However, I am no expert on mammal droppings so I can't be sure. Any opinions?

 

[CLEM]

I think your suspicions are correct , looks like Munti to me too.

 

[Damascus]

I’d second that or they are some spilt chocolate raisins!

 

[slowworm]

I know muntis are meant to be tough but I didn't know they carried pen knives...

We don't have them here yet so can't help with the id but why do people suggest muntjac over roe? If it's mainly down to size would a young roe not produce similar?

 

[Broch]

You may be right, but I have seen no sign of deer in this wood but have heard Muntjac in the next valley - so I'm maybe jumping to a conclusion.

However, my books tell me that Roe Deer pellets are pointed at one end and indented at the other; these don't appear to meet that description.

 

[slowworm]

A quick google seemed to suggest the pellets of roe and muntjac could be quite similar, but as there's always roe about our woods I tend to assume small droppings are roe.

I'm also curious to know the difference on the noise roe and muntjac make, they both seem to bark and we often hear barking roe, quite a deep and loud, how do muntjac differ?

 

[Broch]

A quick google seemed to suggest the pellets of roe and muntjac could be quite similar, but as there's always roe about our woods I tend to assume small droppings are roe.

I'm also curious to know the difference on the noise roe and muntjac make, they both seem to bark and we often hear barking roe, quite a deep and loud, how do muntjac differ?

Similar, but more like a jack russel (IMO)

 

[FerlasDave]

I think you could be getting paranoid, iirc the muntjac leaves smaller clusters and the droppings are just a tad smaller than those.

But, if it is muntjac…

 

[JonathanD]

I agree with FerlasDave and slowworm. They look like roe to me. Munti are smaller and slightly more rounded. Thats going off the camera angle and scale you applied.

If you find any more seperate them and photograph them individually right next to a ruler. But pretty certain they’re roe.

 

[PoppyD]

A quick google seemed to suggest the pellets of roe and muntjac could be quite similar, but as there's always roe about our woods I tend to assume small droppings are roe.

I'm also curious to know the difference on the noise roe and muntjac make, they both seem to bark and we often hear barking roe, quite a deep and loud, how do muntjac differ?

You will know when you hear muntjac deer . They sound unnatural and a bit werewolfy. Not like the doggy barking that roe deer make. Apart from that. What dad and the other pro roe deer people have said. They smell different too. Muntjac deer smell really pungent if you squeeze them and have a good sniff. Roe deer smell more like soil. But you need to have sniffed a lot of poo to tell the difference. Do start squeezing and sniffing and you will know when something different is between your fingers.

 

[JonathanD]

I’ve got a better way than sniffing poo. Make some sand traps for print ID. That’s far more effective. I suspect that deer droppings now for both species will be a little more bound and dry due to the weather. But if you don’t mind collecting and sniffing poo. Knock your socks off. Pops has a big poo collection. So I’d bow to her knowledge on such things. Luckily it doesn’t fill my home any more.

 

[Broch]

Thanks guys
There have been no roe deer sightings in this area TBH. I'll get the camera traps out to try and get a definitive answer.

 

[Broch]

You will know when you hear muntjac deer . They sound unnatural and a bit werewolfy. Not like the doggy barking that roe deer make. Apart from that. What dad and the other pro roe deer people have said. They smell different too. Muntjac deer smell really pungent if you squeeze them and have a good sniff. Roe deer smell more like soil. But you need to have sniffed a lot of poo to tell the difference. Do start squeezing and sniffing and you will know when something different is between your fingers.

Great to see you back Poppy
I've got no problems with sniffing poo - I'll get on it tomorrow

 

[JonathanD]

Weirdos.

 

[JonathanD]

Thanks guys
There have been no roe deer sightings in this area TBH. I'll get the camera traps out to try and get a definitive answer.

Oh yeah. Camera traps. That’d make things a tad easier and less messier.

 

[Broch]

I think you could be getting paranoid, iirc the muntjac leaves smaller clusters and the droppings are just a tad smaller than those.

But, if it is muntjac…

And if it's Roe?

 

[JonathanD]

Thanks guys
There have been no roe deer sightings in this area TBH. I'll get the camera traps out to try and get a definitive answer.

They will be drastically expanding territory due to the dry weather and searching for green food. Same can be said for munti though. But by me, where we have a large amount of munti, they do seem to have declined slightly and more roe are present these last few weeks, where munti sightings eclipsed roe by far.

 

[JonathanD]

And if it's Roe?

Well the bucks are in season. And they are a bit tasty.

 

[FerlasDave]

They will be drastically expanding territory due to the dry weather and searching for green food. Same can be said for munti though. But by me, where we have a large amount of munti, they do seem to have declined slightly and more roe are present these last few weeks, where munti sightings eclipsed roe by far.

Last time I was out that way the butchers I visit said the game keeper was bringing muntjac almost daily! I took an entire carcass off his hands as he had that many hanging.

Maybe the keeper has done his job well.

 

[FerlasDave]

And if it's Roe?

Same solution I guess?

Wouldn’t that be a win in terms of your biodiversity goals though? I know they can be destructive but at least they’re native?