Deer herds need to be culled
Earth and Leaf Editorial - Deer Herds need to be Culled
We revisit the topic that deer herds need to be culled time and again. There are up to 64 deer per square kilometre. The maximum recommended is ten. That is far too many with sheep there too. It needs to be less than three.
Generally we are anti hunting, not in this case. Deer Herds need to be Culled, some carcases left on the fell.
Extract
Scotland’s lost mountain woodlands could make a comeback — but only if deer populations are brought under control, according to new research.
A six-year study examined how deer management affects upland habitat and found that high deer densities severely limit the survival of dwarf birch, a native species crucial to restoring mountain woodland.
Scotland’s Highlands have some of the highest deer densities in Europe — driven by centuries of land management for sport and the absence of natural predators.
Mountain woodlands provide vital benefits, including stabilising slopes, reducing landslide risk, and cutting downstream flooding.
The research, led by PhD researcher Sarah Watts from the University of Stirling’s Faculty of Natural Sciences, revealed that when red deer numbers exceed three per square kilometre, dwarf birch planted in grassland and heath suffers heavy browsing and high mortality.
At lower densities, survival rates improve dramatically, with growth strongest in heathland.
Ms Watts said: “These findings show that blanket bog is a refuge where populations of dwarf birch have escaped overgrazing, rather than providing the ideal conditions for planting and restoration action.
“This means that Scotland’s lost mountain woodlands can return more widely if deer densities are reduced.”
She added: “Instead of being an unspoilt wilderness, the Highlands have been influenced by people for thousands of years.
“Scotland has some of the highest deer densities in Europe, due to management for sport shooting and the removal of top predators such as wolves and lynx.”
Current national targets allow up to 10 deer per square kilometre, but local figures range to more than 64 — far too high for sensitive upland habitats, the study warns.
Deer Herds Need to be Culled.
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