SCIENTIFIC VIEW

Regarding Phil Burnell’s observations (Letters, 26 October), I would comment as follows; while the general scientific view is that roe are monoestrous (with the doe being receptive for two to six days and fertile within this period for about 36 hours) there is not 100% agreement about this among the scientific community.

Questions about the ‘false rut’ occurring in the autumn – which has been known about for many years – has led to a belief that some adult females may experience a second cycle in the year, having not been successfully fertilised during the summer rut. Hence the lack of agreement about them being monoestrous. There is also the accepted fact of roebucks retaining a store of viable sperm which, though likely to be low by the autumn, will still be present.

The original answer (Sporting answers, 31 August) referred to an observation by a stalker that he had seen a doe which he thought might have not given birth. I’m not sure that publishing a letter which gives an absolute statement is really helpful.

Our understanding of how deer respond to the changing environment alters by the year and, as with any living animals, there always will be exceptions to the rule. Certainly ‘late’ kids and calves are increasingly reported almost every season.

By chance when I was away last week I was shown and asked about some pictures of two very under-developed kids pictured with their mother in the past 10 days.

Iain Watson, by email

While the accepted view is that roe are monoestrous, this is not 100% agreed upon in the scientific community