Woodland dominance

The rut is hotting up and there is a fierce struggle for dominance in the wild woods of Northumberland

am writing this just as the roe rut seems to be warming up and I had to smile to myself with the deer antics in the woods this week. You could almost think there was an election going on in there because there is the same amount of frantic action that we have all seen in our own recent polls.

There are some very important appointments being made in the Northumberland wild woods at this time. The action has all been about choosing a leader, the one difference being that the roebuck election is one of domination with no deals being done for a majority

– a buck’s negotiation is clear-cut. The outright winner takes all, following what is often a physical and bloody campaign however the blood doesn’t flow every time.

I can say that I have never seen a

Iroebuck lurking in the glades secretly whispering mealy-mouthed words. I certainly have seen that in abundance with every political party before, during and after the recent election. There is no spin involved in the roe buck’s domination of his seat, nor is there a gathering of supporters to fight his corner. The roe buck’s manifesto is a clear and honest political approach. He has a far more direct and understandable message: “I am the biggest, the strongest and best – surely you can see that?” Many do, others may need persuading before they lose their deposit.

Lesser bucks

“The outright winner takes all, following a physical and bloody campaign”

The lesser bucks have been pushed away to poorer ground apart from one or two that may mistakenly offer a challenge on his borders, most of those will be simple skirmishes. They will already have the bruises to remind them that theirs is really only a half-hearted challenge perhaps gaining themselves a little self-respect. They realise it would not be wise to make a full-blown attempt at a dethroning and they know it is likely to go badly wrong for them.