UK Wild deer populations are booming – Problems and benefits

[Keith Talbot]

heres quite an intersting read

UK Wild deer populations are booming – Problems and benefits

[natureguy]

Interesting article Keith, a good thing that they're doing well but then the same old problem of wildlife expanding into built up areas, which is going to happen more and more often. What the solution may be though I have no idea.

Is this your favourite website btw.
It is interesting though, loads of articles covering almost everything.

[shei111]

Hello Keith I did put a thread up about the amount of deer we have in Suffolk.

Our local paper went on to say that they want to cull alot to keep numbers down. sheila

[Keith Talbot]

Originally Posted by natureguy

Interesting article Keith, a good thing that they're doing well but then the same old problem of wildlife expanding into built up areas, which is going to happen more and more often. What the solution may be though I have no idea.

Is this your favourite website btw.
It is interesting though, loads of articles covering almost everything.

you noticed

it is very good,very informative,

thought id share some of the news

[aeshna5]

Re-introduction of Lynx in certain areas may help. There was an article about the potential of this in the last issue of British Wildlife. I think there's more likelihood of Lynx being brought back than Wolves.

[JeffH]

That's a very interesting article Keith - thanks for posting

By the way, I can see why you like the site concerned - some excellent content.

For those who might be interested the Deer Commission for Scotland site also contains some useful information about control methods, etc up there -
Welcome page of DCS

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers & Barn Owls)

[Rob_D]

It is an interesting article. It does seem surprising that deer management is less regulated here than in any other European country (makes a change!)

I love to see the large herds of Fallow deer in the arable fields round N Herts, but if I were a farmer, I'd be concerned about 100 large animals grazing uncontrolled on my crops. It would be nice to think that any culling that really was necessary could be done in a controlled and humane way, and the venison put to good use (and compensating the crop owner).

Also interesting about low risk of spreading Bovine Tb through deer. The DEFRA conclusion is disputed by the badger trust http://www.badger.org.uk/_Attachment...ces/288_S4.pdf.

[Hedge Witch]

Interesting article Keith, thanks for posting.

I had heard that the decline in some birds such as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, the Tree Pipit and the Spotted Flycatcher seems to correlate with the increase in deer.

these deer are now being blamed by leading ornithologists for damaging the broadleaf woods and forests that numerous birds rely on by grazing on saplings, lower leaves and underbrush.

Ornithologists say deer must die to save the lesser spotted woodpecker - Environment - The Independent

BBC NEWS | UK | Woodland bird decline alarms experts

Woodland Birds WIG Guidance _3_.doc

Whatever the case, deer do seem to have a massive impact on the structure of woodland.

[james bennet]

A very interesting report, which throws up many questions. I wonder why deer-culling is so distasteful to the public at large, when the alternative to the deer is being hit by a car, or a slow death through starvation? I'm sure it's far more humane and less traumatic for the animal than the way most farm animals are dispatched, after first being shipped great distances, and the great meat-buying public doesn't seem fussed about that!

[Hobjob]

I was chatting with some Minsmere wardens and another very experienced local birder about woodcock last week.

They reckon the scarcity in the area is due to the lack of understory in the woods because of the number of deer - mainly red and munjac hereabouts.