Once rare, the roe deer is now considered by some to be a bit of a pest

What is Scotland’s most dangerous creature? Is it the wasp whose sting can trigger a severe allergic reaction in a tiny minority of people, or the adder, or perhaps the venomous lesser weever fish that lurks in some of our shallow sandy bays? It is a question open for debate but remarkably one of the leading contenders is the roe deer.

The rapid increase in roe deer numbers over the last few decades has made the animal a particular hazard on roads and it is estimated there are as many as 10,000 deer-related motor accidents in Scotland every year, on average causing about 70 human injuries. It is now common to see a roe deer carcass by the side of a road, whereas 30 years ago it would have been relatively unusual.

It is, of course, just an unfortunate consequence of an animal that is thriving in Scotland coming into conflict with man. This is a pity, for the roe deer is a fascinating creature which has adapted well to the varied topography of the Scottish countryside. It is normally regarded as a woodland animal but in some parts of Scotland it has taken to living on moor and other open hill ground, especially during the summer, and in such areas it is not unusual to spot family groups with their lovely foxy red coats feeding amongst the heather and bracken quite some distance from the nearest wood.

But such behaviour is the exception rather than the rule as the roe normally likes to be close to cover so as to shelter and lie-up during the day. Most woodland in Scotland will hold at least a few roes and their presence is easily detected by looking out for their narrow paths through the vegetation. Roes are creatures of habit and like to use the same paths night after night that will lead to feeding areas in surrounding fields. Unlike the red deer which congregates in herds, roe deer are typically found in ones or twos or small groups.

Normally, roe deer are shy animals and the first sign of their presence is the tell-tale flash of white from their fleeing rumps as they bound away, often stopping after a hundred yards or so to take one last look at the person who disturbed their grazing.

But there are occasions when their behaviour simply confounds. Just recently when walking with my wife in Strathdevon we stumbled upon a male and female roe sitting in long grass close to a path. The buck looked resplendent with his neat little antlers and summer coat, while all that could be glimpsed of the doe were her large ears sticking out from above the grass, occasionally twitching in response to a buzzing fly. Neither showed the slightest inclination to move despite our proximity, and because it was mid May, I could only surmise that this doe was about to give birth and was in no state to run away.

The rutting season begins in July, which can be a time of great drama with the bucks aggressively defending their territories, sometimes barking like a dog to drive rivals away. Fights between bucks often occur where they will approach each other with heads bowed before locking antlers and then pushing and twisting against each other. Occasionally such bouts will result in injury and the death of one of the combatants. The bucks will also rub against trees and bushes to scent them.

Once widespread, roe deer became extinct throughout much of Britain and by the 18th century only survived in remnant woodlands in parts of the Scottish highlands. The situation is very different today with the roe being our commonest deer. In many areas their grazing activities are a real pest for foresters and farmers. They are a particular problem in new forestry with their browsing and fraying of young trees preventing the establishment of such areas.