This week as part of our Village Wild video series, presented by Tourism Skillsnet North we're featuring a wild video submitted to us by Tom McClelland.
The trail cam video shot on January 14, 2024 captures a parade of six bucks traversing through the snowy woods of Northern Ontario.
"The six bucks are travelling through a 100 acre parcel of private property," McClelland told Village Life in an email. "The four bucks are quite exceptional. Deer number six is a smaller buck. Deer number one we do not see but are assuming it is a large buck too as this time of year they travel in bachelor groups."
In Ontario, as well as in many other regions bucks shed their antlers annually. The shedding of antlers is a natural and cyclical process that occurs primarily in late winter or early spring. The exact timing can vary based on factors such as the deer's age, health, and individual variations.
The primary reason bucks lose their antlers is hormonal. As daylight decreases in the fall, the testosterone levels in male deer rise, triggering the rutting season (mating season). During this period, bucks use their antlers for behaviours like establishing dominance, defending territory, and competing for mates. After the rut concludes, testosterone levels drop.
As the days get shorter and the hormonal changes occur, it triggers the process of antler shedding, known as antler casting. The pedicle, which is the bony structure from which the antlers grow, weakens, and the antlers eventually fall off. This usually happens to conserve energy and resources during the harsh winter months when food may be scarce, and carrying around the weight of antlers is not necessary for survival.
The shedding of antlers is a fascinating aspect of deer biology and plays a crucial role in their reproductive and survival strategies. The process is part of the natural life cycle of these animals, and it allows them to be more agile and conserve energy as they navigate through the winter until the regrowth of antlers begins in the spring.
How to Participate in Village Wild: Video of the month
Submitting your entry is easy. Simply fill out the submission form and upload your video or add a link to the video along with a brief description.
Each month, our Village Life team will randomly select and announce a Video of the Month award winner. The user who submitted the video will receive a gift card as a token of appreciation for sharing their unique footage with our readers.
