Deer rut season starts at the end of September and could impact residents who visit Richmond Park over the next month.
The season, where stags rival each other to find an ideal mate, attracts viewers from across the city but can also pose a threat to visitors.
Richmond Park Manager Paul Richards welcomed people to come watch the deer rut ceremony but warns them to take care.
Richards said: “Because they are wild animals you have to respect them and that is the main word I would like to relay.
“Respect the deer, respect one another and respect the park.
“To watch this take place, please keep your distance and, while the deer are active, keep at least 100 metres away.”
Richards encouraged attendees to follow the guidence of the park’s orange-clad voluteer park rangers on how to stay safe.
While the deer in Richmond are more used to human presence and are less likely to attack, attendees still need to be cautious.
The ruts, along with fawn birth, are the two most dangerous seasons for deer watching but are generally safe.
Deer rutting season has posed a threat to humans in the past and has resulted in serious injuries and even deaths.
In recent years, visitors have put themselves in danger by trying to take selfies with the rutting stags.
Charles Smith-Jones of the British Deer Society recalled some incidents where humans put themselves in danger.
Smith-Jones said: “A few years ago in Richmond there was a lady who got too close to a rutting stag and ended up in hospital.
“She just got too close and he reacted.”
The most dangerous moment during rutting is when two stags are parallel walking, where the stags size each other up before choosing whether to attack or to run away.
Smith-Jones said: “I know another occasion where a jogger ran between two stags who were parallel walking.
“In that instance, I believe the jogger got caught between two sets of antlers and that was fatal.
“It is very rare but can happen if people are unaware of the problems they can get into.”
Smith-Jones also warned people about taking their dogs for walks in Richmond Park during rutting season.
Smith-Jones said: “A dog is a predator and stags usually want to get away from it.
“However, during a rut, a stag is fired up and they may react differently.
“The best thing to do is just don’t take the dog with you.”
More information on how to deal with rutting deer can be found on the British Deer Society website.
Feature Image: Vince O’Sullivan via Flickr
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