What We Do...
The muntjac is entirely solitary and especially territorial. Each female requires a half an acre of land depending on topography. Nature ensures a bias of approximately one buck to every five to seven hinds born to ensure a perfect regeneration system.
Within 36 hours of giving birth the female comes into oestrus with no fallow season. Gestation is seven months and each female achieves close to a doubling of numbers each year.
Upon rejection, at approximately five months, the fawn must seek its own territory females to commence breeding at around eight months of age. Muntjac are active for virtually 24 hours a day and most of this time is spent browsing with a few species of plant, vegetable, tree, sedge and grasses rejected.
Most severe damage i.e. a meadow grazed appearance of woodland floor, along with a one metre high vertical browse line occurs in late winter when effectively, in over populated areas, along with indigenous species, all are starving until regrowth in Spring. In these conditions a young tree seedling has little chance of surviving.
Road collision in the countryside is now commonplace. Damage to vehicles is on the increase and the creature poses a severe hazard to motorcycles!
Detection in gardens usually originates with a fleeting night-time sighting, footprints and droppings accompanied by the inevitable barking by bucks. Most importantly the muntjac will set about devouring just about anything in a garden, mostly during the night.
One small consolation is the meat value of the carcass although it is mostly limited to the haunches and spinal area it is known to be the best tasting venison.
Upon surveying a property flatjac staff prefer to offer non lethal means of removal and prevention, but in many cases destruction is sought by the client.
In the case of acreage or commercial premises, a range of management changes can be introduced, along with ultimate destruction methods.
Agriculture and forestry industries usually self manage. Unfortunately pre ordained to fail due to lack of intent resulting in the ongoing transmission of infestation.
Flatjac understands the muntjac and the needs of the gardener/landowner. It is probably why we say 'the only good muntjac is a flat one'
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