Can I ask whether it was on its own? Very surprised at its tameness and I do wonder why.
It’s a long, long story really. Probably too long for this thread so I’ll keep it shortish.
I’ve shared the land I live on with that male for over 10 years now. He never used to be that brave; only the last two years TBH. Before him was what I presumed to be his ex-wife or maybe his sister – I couldn’t ever be certain. Anyway, she had a split lower jaw – a cleft, if you will – and as she got older she showed interest in the old bread I threw out and eventually stood outside my door waiting for it. She eventually took it from my hand and he used to watch her doing so, stamping his foot in some sort of demonstration. She died a few years ago and he thought it was time to make a stance and get some free grub himself. So for about two years now, he’s been waiting outside my door most mornings – sometimes asleep, sometimes staring in a zombie-deer fashion.
He’s been a loner since his other female died giving birth a year back but just recently a new love interest has turned-up, weirdly with a developing youngster with her, which I’m guessing is a male (hoping would be better because we haven’t had a male for sometime now). It’s going to be an interesting Spring.
There’s also a new family moving in (male, female and non-weaning offspring), which leads me to believe he’s lost some ground to the new and rather large male of that group.
He does bark for the most part, only squeaking when there’s a rival in the vicinity or threatening ol’ Split Lip when she showed annoyance at him stealing her bread.
I have extensive photos, films and documentation of their habits and movements that I’ve been meaning to share with someone who can do something with it, but TBH, he’s become so tame I doubt he’d make a good study. There are better vids where he’s not so spooked by someone else being close but most have been taken from the first-person perspective and are a tad shakey.
