Roe doing well on the fen

The roe is the deer of my youth, frequently observed as I explored an ever-increasing range spread along the Surrey/Sussex border. Each small block of woodland appeared to have its resident pair of roe, which would venture out onto the adjoining pastureland to feed at dawn and dusk, and so the species became something of a talisman for my youthful wanderings.

Here in Norfolk roe are deer that I only see once in a while, replaced by everyday sightings of the diminutive muntjac that have done so well in this part of the county. However, there are occasions and places where I see roe in good numbers. At this time of the year the roe, which as a species tends to avoid the herd instinct, can come together in small groups at sites where the habitat is most favourable to them. The RSPB reserve at Lakenheath Fen is one such site and eight or 10 individuals can be seen if you visit just after dawn. Roe are extremely inquisitive animals and, if feeling secure, will stand and watch you, providing an ideal opportunity to take in their character. On a dull January day the roe will be in their winter coats, brownish grey in colour and made up of long wavy hairs that help provide insulation against the vagaries of the fenland winter. This coat is very different from the sleak fox-brown summer coat that will be grown from April or May but their drab winter tones are well suited to the January landscape. The dark muzzle and white chin are characteristic when the roe is viewed from the front, the dark eyes staring intently at you and the large ears alert to other sounds. Even when viewed from behind the species should be recognisable, the pale rump (white in winter, buff in summer) is oval shaped and lacks any obvious tail (the latter being diagnostic for the species).

Although regarded as a native, the roe population underwent a marked decline such that, by the start of the Eighteenth Century, it was restricted to remnant woodlands across parts of the Scottish Highlands. There was something of a recovery after this period but this only brought the species back into northern England; it is thought that all of the roe in East Anglia derive from animals introduced from elsewhere in Europe.

The small groups at Lakenheath will break up by April, the males establishing breeding territories which they will hold throughout the summer months to secure access to the females, once they come into season. The level of visible activity during daylight hours is also likely to decline as the months progress, so take your chance now to see these wonderful animals.