Deer Management Explained

What is Deer Management?

Deer management is the practice of regulating deer populations to protect the environment, public safety (vehicle collisions), and deer welfare. Deer are prolific breeders and can become a problem for farmers, foresters, and the environment if their numbers increase unchecked.

With no known predators, a herd of 100 deer, allowing for birth mortality rates, can increase to 1,000 in just 10 years.

There are now more deer in the UK than there have been in over 1,000 years. It is estimated that the deer population now stands at over 2 million and in some parts of the UK, where populations have gone unchecked, there are “super herds”.

The deer population is believed to have doubled since 1999

Here are some objectives of deer management

Deer management is based on ecological principles and focuses on the impact of deer on the land, rather than the number of deer. The owner of the land, where deer cross or settle, has the right to control and manage them.

Protect the environment

Deer management helps protect and restore natural habitats and the species that depend on them.

Prevent damage

Deer management prevents damage to agriculture, forestry, and nature.

Reduce vehicle collisions

Deer management reduces the number of vehicle collisions involving deer.

Benefit deer welfare

Deer management benefits the welfare of deer.

Provide food

Deer management provides a sustainable food source.

What Happens if Deer Numbers are Not Controlled?

When deer populations are not controlled, they can have negative impacts on the environment, agriculture, and forestry, as well as on human safety:

Environmental impact: Deer can reduce plant and animal diversity in forests, which can affect soils and release carbon. They can also damage or kill young trees by browsing on their bark and lower branches, preventing forests from regenerating.

Agricultural impact

Deer can reduce food output, making food more expensive and difficult to produce.

Forestry impact

Deer can damage forestry and agricultural crops.

Human safety impact

Deer can increase the risk of road accidents.

Disease spread

Deer can spread disease and become prone to disease themselves.

Starvation

Without predators, deer are more likely to suffer from starvation as numbers grow.

Road traffic accidents involving deer present a major problem in the UK as well as in many other countries in Europe.

According to The British Deer Society, it is estimated that annually, the number of deer killed or injured on UK roads is likely to exceed 40,000 and may well be nearer 74,000.

They present one of the main causes of mortality among wild deer populations in the UK. Also, a high proportion of deer which are hit by cars are not killed outright: many must be put down at the roadside, while others escape to die later of their injuries.

In addition, DVCs cause substantial damage to cars and numerous human injuries as well as several human fatalities each year.

DR Deer Management