Moment hidden camera captures two male deer frolicking in murky puddle

Stag in the mud! Moment hidden camera captures two male deer splashing and frolicking in murky puddle

  • Ecological consultant Dr Jochen Langbein filmed deers in Exmoor National Park
  • Red deer stags seen jumping in murky puddle and covering themselves in mud
  • Deers known to use mud wallows especially during the peak of mating season

This is the comical moment a hidden camera catches two deers frolicking around in a muddy puddle.

Footage captured by ecological consultant Dr Jochen Langbein, 61, in Exmoor National Park last month shows the two playful red deer stags jumping into the murky puddle and covering themselves in the brown sludge.   

Red deer stags are the biggest land mammals in Britain and often feature fur which is a distinctive a dark russet-brown colour, a pale rump patch and a short tail.

Dr Jochen Langbein, 61, captures the red deer stag enjoying the muddy puddle in Exmoor National Park

A second stag, who is believed to be around two-and-a-half-years-old, enters the murky water

During the clip, the first stag, who has single spike antlers and is around 18-months- old, leaps into the murky waters and rolls around in the mud.

Later, the second stag, who is believed to be around two-and-a-half years old, enters the water and submerges its body into the muddle puddle.

What are red deer stags?

Red deers are the UK’s largest land mammal and are common in Scotland, particularly the Highlands and the islands, the Lake District, Exmoor and Hampshire’s New Forest.

The deers are often seen with dark russet-brown fur, a pale rump patch and a pale tail.

Male red deers, called stags, are known for their branched antlers, which can measure up to one metre in breadth.

During breeding season, male red deers will fight over females, known as hinds, and may even injure other deers with their antlers.

The males are known to use mud wallows during the peak of mating season and will often roll in them to adorn themselves with the pungent  odour. 

Red deers, which have an average life span of 16-18 years, mainly eat grasses, sedges, rushes and dwarf shrubs.

Source: The Wildlife Trusts 

Dr Langbein explained: ‘Red deer stags in particular are known to use mud wallows especially during the peak of mating season or ”rut” in late September, when they will often roll in the mud to adorn themselves with the pungent rut odour.

‘In addition, female red deer as well as yearling males are equally fond of wallowing and covering themselves in mud both during the rutting time, but also well into the winter when mature stags use them less frequently or have left the area.

‘It is suggested by some that deer wallow partly to get rid of ticks and other external parasites.

‘Among our different deer species, red deer are known to use mud wallows much more extensively than do fallow and roe deer, but the behaviour has received only quite limited scientific study.

‘On viewing the footage I was delighted to see I had captured such high-spirited behaviour of the young stags right close up to the camera.

‘The footage illustrates perfectly the excitement and joy the deer appear to get from wallowing in the mud – the best things in life remain free!’  

The videos were shot at an undisclosed location on Exmoor on December 4 and December 8 last year.   

Red deers are often seen with dark russet-brown fur and a pale tail and are common in the Scotland Highlands, the Lake District, Exmoor and Hampshire’s New Forest. 

Male red deers, called stags, are known for their branched antlers, which can measure up to one metre in breadth.

During breeding season, male red deers will fight over females, known as hinds, and may even injure other deers with their antlers. 

The species, which have an average life span of 16-18 years, mainly eat grasses, sedges, rushes and dwarf shrubs. 

The red deer stag splashes around in the mud and enjoys the cool waters in the woodland area

The stag submerges its body beneath the muddy puddle in Exmoor National Park 

The stag rolls around in the mud and begins to cover its body in the brown sludge

Source: Read Full Article

Previous post How Rachel Uchitel Realized She Was a 'Love Addict' After Tiger Woods Scandal
Next post Spain hit by temperatures of -25C after shocking snowfall during deadly Storm Filomena