Amateur photographer Mark Bridger was out walking in Knole Park, near Sevenoaaks, Kent when he saw an impressive antlered head seemingly popping out of the ground. The stag was resting during the mating rut in one of dozens of 'cologne' holes dug by the animals around the park. The holes are carved out of the earth by the male fallow deer. They use the hole as a latrine and then rub the scent on their fur to attract females...
Picture: Mark Bridger / CATERS
Mark said: "When I first saw its head poking up I wondered if it had been chopped off, it was quite shocking. When I was there it was during the rut and there were a lot of males using the holes. Sometimes it looked like they were taking a rest from the action in their own mini dug outs like in a football match." A spokesman for Knole Park, which is run by the National Trust, said the male deer used the holes to cover themselves in a cologne of dung and urine. He said: "It might not sound like something you or me would wear for a Saturday night out, but female deer are actually attracted to the smell."
Picture: Mark Bridger / CATERS
