A DEER spotted at Baiter Park did swim all the way across to Brownsea Island, it has been confirmed. 

As reported by the Daily Echo yesterday, Tracy Lewis captured footage of the sika bouncing along the water’s edge at Baiter Park several times on Thursday before it entered the harbour.

Poole resident Tracy told the Echo: "It was running up and down for ages and in the end, it made the decision to swim across the harbour to Brownsea Island way."

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She added: "I don't know if it managed to get to the other side because it was so far I lost sight of it.

"Luckily there were two men in a boat to keep an eye on it. They carefully followed behind it whilst it swam across checking it was not drowning.

"Only those two guys in the boat will know if it made it to the other side."

"I just hope the deer is okay and safe."

However, the RNLI has since shared footage of the deer making its way towards Brownsea Island.

The video was captured by Poole RNLI volunteer Mark Corbett who was afloat in the harbour working for Poole Harbour Commissioners.

Posting on Twitter, Poole RNLI Lifeboats said: "One of our RNLI volunteers spotted this little swimmer yesterday. It swam all the way from Baiter Park onto Brownsea Island.”

According to the Dorset Wildlife Trust, sika can swim considerable distances.

The non-native species were introduced to Brownsea Island in 1896 date but, being such good swimmers, soon colonised surrounding areas of the harbour in their search for the best food.