Rum Deer Research
@rumdeerresearch.bsky.social
Research findings and news from a long-term study of Red Deer on the Isle of Rum National Nature Reserve, Scotland. https://rumdeer.bio.ed.ac.uk/ #isleofrum #deer #reddeer #cervuselaphus #science #reddeerresearch
And finally... Coypu19, on the left earlier seen in the year still in velvet was in the study area during the rut. His father is Longbeys is on the right. Their antlers are very similar in shape.
October 31, 2025 at 10:20 AM
And finally... Coypu19, on the left earlier seen in the year still in velvet was in the study area during the rut. His father is Longbeys is on the right. Their antlers are very similar in shape.
2 of 2. Eddy 16 and Lalo are evenly matched and after two minutes agree to disagree, moving cautiously away from one another.
October 31, 2025 at 9:16 AM
2 of 2. Eddy 16 and Lalo are evenly matched and after two minutes agree to disagree, moving cautiously away from one another.
1 of 2. Eddy16, left and Lalo right (in both pictures) fight. Eddy16 seems to have the upper hand as he pushes Lalo back, one tip of an antler tine so very close to Lalo's eye.
October 31, 2025 at 9:09 AM
1 of 2. Eddy16, left and Lalo right (in both pictures) fight. Eddy16 seems to have the upper hand as he pushes Lalo back, one tip of an antler tine so very close to Lalo's eye.
This is a young incoming stag that we have not seen before, so he has been named Herbert and we estimate him to be about 5 years old. He has been very enthusiastic around the hinds.
October 31, 2025 at 8:48 AM
This is a young incoming stag that we have not seen before, so he has been named Herbert and we estimate him to be about 5 years old. He has been very enthusiastic around the hinds.
Hodges, another incoming rutter, did very well early on in the rut. The nicks in his ears show where he has been injured in previous battles, and are also great for identification.
October 31, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Hodges, another incoming rutter, did very well early on in the rut. The nicks in his ears show where he has been injured in previous battles, and are also great for identification.
Here is another set of brothers, Gorgonzola19, left and Gorgonzola20. These boys, along with their brother from 2022, are all that remain of our once illustrious Cheese family.
October 31, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Here is another set of brothers, Gorgonzola19, left and Gorgonzola20. These boys, along with their brother from 2022, are all that remain of our once illustrious Cheese family.
Scottie has been coming back to the study area to rut for 5 years now. As an incoming rutter, we don't know where he lives for the rest of the year. He is very distinctive with his wide antlers and pale eyes. Saba is ruminating behind him.
October 31, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Scottie has been coming back to the study area to rut for 5 years now. As an incoming rutter, we don't know where he lives for the rest of the year. He is very distinctive with his wide antlers and pale eyes. Saba is ruminating behind him.
It can get confusing when brothers are both rutting, but at least Eddy15, left, and Eddy16 were in different parts of the study area!
October 31, 2025 at 8:12 AM
It can get confusing when brothers are both rutting, but at least Eddy15, left, and Eddy16 were in different parts of the study area!
We were amazed when 15 year old Sitar10 returned. He was blinded in his right eye a good few years ago in a fight. After this was taken, he must have fought as part of his broken right antler was found!
October 31, 2025 at 8:04 AM
We were amazed when 15 year old Sitar10 returned. He was blinded in his right eye a good few years ago in a fight. After this was taken, he must have fought as part of his broken right antler was found!
Sepal09 on the left, our favourite hummel, unfortunately didn't return this rut, so must have died last winter. His son Reggae19 has been in with a group of hinds just recently. We hope he will do well in coming years.
October 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Sepal09 on the left, our favourite hummel, unfortunately didn't return this rut, so must have died last winter. His son Reggae19 has been in with a group of hinds just recently. We hope he will do well in coming years.
For a number of reasons we have not been posting this rut, but now we're back.
Here is Tokay13 looking like he means business. He was in the Glen early on in the season.
Here is Tokay13 looking like he means business. He was in the Glen early on in the season.
October 31, 2025 at 7:52 AM
For a number of reasons we have not been posting this rut, but now we're back.
Here is Tokay13 looking like he means business. He was in the Glen early on in the season.
Here is Tokay13 looking like he means business. He was in the Glen early on in the season.
Reposted by Rum Deer Research
New paper alert! In my second first-author paper from my work on the Isle of Rum Red Deer Project @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social we show, for only the second time in a wild population, that parasites mediate inbreeding depression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Parasite-mediated inbreeding depression in wild red deer
Heredity - Parasite-mediated inbreeding depression in wild red deer
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 9:26 AM
New paper alert! In my second first-author paper from my work on the Isle of Rum Red Deer Project @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social we show, for only the second time in a wild population, that parasites mediate inbreeding depression.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 23, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by Rum Deer Research
Hannah Lemon gave a very clear and interesting talk about social inheritance of social relationships from mothers to their daughters and sons (to a lesser extent) in the Rum red deer @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social.
@behaviour2025.bsky.social @asab.org
@behaviour2025.bsky.social @asab.org
August 29, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Hannah Lemon gave a very clear and interesting talk about social inheritance of social relationships from mothers to their daughters and sons (to a lesser extent) in the Rum red deer @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social.
@behaviour2025.bsky.social @asab.org
@behaviour2025.bsky.social @asab.org
Reposted by Rum Deer Research
Thrilled to share my first first-author paper from my work with the Isle of Rum Red Deer Project! @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social
We found that host density acts to increase parasitism through two mechanisms: increased exposure and increased susceptibility.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
We found that host density acts to increase parasitism through two mechanisms: increased exposure and increased susceptibility.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Population density drives increased parasitism via greater exposure and reduced resource availability in wild red deer | Parasitology | Cambridge Core
Population density drives increased parasitism via greater exposure and reduced resource availability in wild red deer
www.cambridge.org
August 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Thrilled to share my first first-author paper from my work with the Isle of Rum Red Deer Project! @rumdeerresearch.bsky.social
We found that host density acts to increase parasitism through two mechanisms: increased exposure and increased susceptibility.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
We found that host density acts to increase parasitism through two mechanisms: increased exposure and increased susceptibility.
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Peridot19 is also back. His father is Wisdom11 (now dead), the stag with the most offspring by far in our group of study animals.
September 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Peridot19 is also back. His father is Wisdom11 (now dead), the stag with the most offspring by far in our group of study animals.
Coypu19, left and his father Longbeys in 2018, the year he was conceived.
September 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Coypu19, left and his father Longbeys in 2018, the year he was conceived.
Coypu19 is back in the study area for the rut and he is looking very impressive for a 6 year old.
September 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Coypu19 is back in the study area for the rut and he is looking very impressive for a 6 year old.
Due to storm damage and blocked tracks we will have to walk 5 miles to the study site to check on infrastructure there and see how the deer coped with Storm Floris!
August 5, 2025 at 7:36 AM
Due to storm damage and blocked tracks we will have to walk 5 miles to the study site to check on infrastructure there and see how the deer coped with Storm Floris!
Calving Team 2025 1st instalment @celestineadelmant.bsky.social Eve Morris @seanofrum.bsky.social @sarah-dobson.bsky.social Prof Josephine Pemberton and Ali Morris @isleofrum.bsky.social
June 1, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Calving Team 2025 1st instalment @celestineadelmant.bsky.social Eve Morris @seanofrum.bsky.social @sarah-dobson.bsky.social Prof Josephine Pemberton and Ali Morris @isleofrum.bsky.social
At this time of year, it is very difficult to spot deer. How many can you make out in this picture?
April 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
At this time of year, it is very difficult to spot deer. How many can you make out in this picture?
A beautiful, but chilly morning here in the study area, although Askival just has to create a cloud all of it's own.
March 14, 2025 at 8:11 AM
A beautiful, but chilly morning here in the study area, although Askival just has to create a cloud all of it's own.
After 48hrs of wet and stormy weather, we have ventured out in a mere gale to find the Glen flooded.
March 6, 2025 at 9:32 AM
After 48hrs of wet and stormy weather, we have ventured out in a mere gale to find the Glen flooded.
Uhura watching me go by. She is now part of a family whose names are influenced by Star Trek characters.
February 16, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Uhura watching me go by. She is now part of a family whose names are influenced by Star Trek characters.
Making the most of the cold east wind weather to get another census done. A bit of snow at the highest point
February 16, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Making the most of the cold east wind weather to get another census done. A bit of snow at the highest point