"Mystery" over deer captured in the water on beach near Skegness
Deer caught enjoying a dip in the sea at Skegness are proving something of a mystery, according to Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.
Anyone who’s visited the Lincolnshire coast knows a swim in the sea is glorious on a hot day – but the motivations behind this species of deer, spotted venturing ever more boldly into the waves, are yet to be determined.
This particular muntjac was snapped returning from a brief dip in the sea at Gibraltar Point last week by shorebird warden Mike Watts.
And this isn’t the first time the species has been spotted venturing to the water’s edge at the nature reserve – with trail cameras revealing others have enjoyed a quick dip too.
“Trail cam footage from the southern end of the sanctuary area has revealed just how often both muntjac and roe deer have been venturing out to this far edge of the reserve,” a Trust spokesperson said.
"The cameras are extremely useful for highlighting predation, disturbance and trampling risks during the nesting season, but also give us some fascinating insights into wildlife behaviour.
"While deer are strong swimmers, they typically enter the water to escape a threat or reach a food source or new territory, so their actions at Gibraltar Point are something of a mystery.”
Mike adds: “It poses a very interesting question as to why the deer are drawn to the sea. Is it simply to cool down during the hot spell we’ve experienced, does the saltwater help alleviate parasites, or does the saltwater and dune vegetation provide minerals they are not getting elsewhere? Whatever the reason, it's still quite surreal to witness."
Currently the shorebird sanctuary at Gibraltar Point is closed until September 1. This is to protect the rare and vulnerable species like little tern, ringed plover and oystercatcher during nesting season.
The trust said the birds and other wildlife are “very sensitive to disturbance”, so perhaps the lack of footfall at the site may have encouraged the deer to be braver in visiting the water.
The Trust spokesperson added: “Mike was only able to take the photograph because he is carefully monitoring the sanctuary as shorebird warden.”