The urea nitrogen salvaging process (UNS) supports the symbiotic relationship between ruminants and their gastrointestinal microbiome by both supplying nitrogen and buffering bacterially-derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Our previous studies have shown the importance of the UT-B2 urea transporters in the rumen of wild fallow deer living in Phoenix Park, Dublin. In this current pilot study, we investigated the effects on these transporters of seasonal changes and feeding behaviour in adult male deer bucks. Restricted, authorized culling of the deer population was performed by Irish Government bodies (Office of Public Works; National Parks & Wildlife Service) under strict national laws. Ruminal tissue samples were obtained from culled animals and ethical approval obtained for their use from UCD Animal Research Ethics Committee’s (AR-EC-E-18-28). Initial investigation of the rumen papillae revealed that animals culled in January had significantly longer papillae (8.4 +/- 1.0 mm, N=5) than those culled just after the rutting season in November (5.3 +/- 0.7 mm, N=12) (p=0.0270, Unpaired T-test) [NOTE: All values are mean +/- S.E.]. In contrast, western blotting analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the abundance of UT-B2 transporters between these two groups (22 +/- 3, N=4, versus 34 +/- 9, N=4) (p=0.2416, Unpaired T-test). Adult males that had displayed consistent begging behaviour to obtain food from human visitors to the park had a higher papillae density (54 +/- 5 per cm2, N=4) than non-begging adult males (40 +/- 2 per cm2, N=7) (p=0.0128, Unpaired T-test). Furthermore, these animals had a significantly higher UT-B2 transporter to total protein abundance ratio (0.56 +/- 0.10, N=3, versus 0.13 +/- 0.04, N=3) (p=0.0183, Unpaired T-test). This increase was also shown, qualitatively by immunolocalization studies, to be predominantly in the stratum basale layer of the begging animals' rumen papillae (N=3). The findings of this novel study therefore improve our understanding of basic rumen physiological processes, but also add insight into the profound unseen effects that humans feeding wildlife may have.