Deer: 50% cull 'necessary to protect countryside'
Deer numbers in some areas appear stable only because thousands are being pushed into surrounding countryside
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Around half of the UK's growing deer population needs to be shot each year to stop devastation of woodlands and birdlife, a group of scientists says.
A study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management says this would keep numbers stable.
The deer population is currently estimated at around 1.5 million.
The researchers from the University of East Anglia suggest creating a venison market to make a cull ethically and economically acceptable.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) commented that any cull must be carried out in a humane and controlled way and be supported by "strong science".
There are now more deer in the UK than at any time since the last Ice Age.
Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote What we are advocating isn't removing deer from the countryside - what we are advocating is trying to get on top of the deer population explosion” End Quote Dr Paul Dolman University of East Anglia
In the absence of natural predators deer populations are continuing to expand, threatening biodiversity and causing road traffic accidents and crop damage, say researchers.
Britain has a total of six deer species, four of which were introduced since Norman times. The most recent newcomer is the Chinese water deer, which became established in the wild in the 1920s.
Dr Paul Dolman, ecologist at the University of East Anglia and lead author, said: "We know deer are eating out the... vegetation of important woodlands, including ancient woodlands.
"Deer are implicated as the major cause of unfavourable conditions in terms of woodland structure and regeneration.
"There is evidence that deer reduce the number of woodland birds - especially some of our much loved migrant birds species like Blackcap and Nightingale, and resident species like Willow Tip. We have a problem."
Failing strategy
Dr Dolman led a census of roe and muntjac deer populations across 234 sq km (145mi) of woods and heathland in Breckland, East Anglia.
The researchers drove more than 1,140 miles at night using thermal imaging cameras to spot deer and provide an accurate estimate of their true numbers.
The results indicate that existing management strategies are failing. Although deer numbers appeared stable in the area, this was only because thousands of the animals were being pushed out into the surrounding countryside each year.
The new research suggested that only by killing 50% to 60% of deer can their numbers be kept under reasonable control.
Such a cull would be on a far greater scale than the 20% to 30% rates recommended previously.
With total deer numbers conservatively estimated at about 1.5 million, it could result in more than 750,000 animals being shot every year.
In a statement, the RSPCA said it was "opposed in principle to the killing or taking of all wild animals unless there is strong science to support it, or evidence that alternatives are not appropriate.
"Even if a cull is supported by science, it is very important that it is carried out in a humane and controlled way.
"Any decision to carry out a cull must be taken on a case by case basis based on the specific issues which impact a specific area. We don't believe this should be rolled out in a uniform way across the whole country. It is certainly not a case of one size fits all."
Dr Dolman said: "We are not killing something and then incinerating the carcass - what we are talking about is harvesting a wild animal to supply wild free-ranging venison for or tables - for farm shops, for gastro pubs.
"What we are advocating isn't removing deer from the countryside - what we are advocating is trying to get on top of the deer population explosion and try to control the problems that are being caused.
"And in a way, [venison] provides a sustainable food source where you know where it comes from, you know it is ethically sourced, you know it is safe to eat, and that puts food on people's tables. As much as I love deer, to be a meat eater but then to object to the culling and harvesting of deer seems to be inconsistent."
Wednesday, a team of researchers at the , , United Kingdom published a study of the increasing  population in the United Kingdom, in the .  They proposed to cull about half each year out of the estimated 1.5 million deer population.

''Wikinews'' interviewed senior lecturer in ecology Dr. Paul Dolman, the lead author of the study, about the problems being faced from the increase in deer population.

A  stag with velvet antlers in , , . 

 What prompted your research into the effect of the deer population on other wildlife?
::'''Dr. Paul Dolman''': As a conservation ecologist I have a long standing interest in woodland management.

 What sort of problems are arising from the continuing increase in the deer population?
::'''Dr. Paul Dolman''': In North America and parts of Europe including the UK, increasing deer populations are changing the structure of forest habitats. This has knock-on effects on plant communities, bird and small mammal populations, with a reduction in the numbers of woodland birds that need a complex shrub layer. In Britain, declines in a number of woodland bird species have been linked to increases in deer numbers. Other problems include damage to agricultural crops, and increased numbers of deer-related road traffic accidents.

 Which species of deer had the most severe impact on other animals and wildlife?
::'''Dr. Paul Dolman''': In the UK there are six deer species, of which two are native ( and ) and four are introduced (, ,  and ). There has not yet been sufficient detailed work to disentangle their effects, but it appears that fallow deer and muntjac have particularly strong effects on woodlands and other biodiversity.

 Is there an absence in the number of natural predators of the deer, which would otherwise control population?
::'''Dr. Paul Dolman''': Increases in deer populations are at least partly related to the historic removal of large predators (including species such as ,  and ), as well as the abundance of nutritious cropland. However in densely settled farmed landscapes such as much of lowland England reintroduction of predators is problematic and control by culling is therefore an important aspect of deer management.


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