The necessity of population control (In the case of Deer and Forestry)
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By Peter Borrowman, Forest Manager at English Woodlands Forestry Ltd
Britain’s deer population has soared in recent decades, with estimates ranging between 650,000 and 2 million individuals (BBC Countryfile, 2023). Regardless of the precise number, it is widely agreed that populations are well beyond the carrying capacity of the current natural environment. Several factors are associated with such a population increase. Indeed, the days of having bears, wolves and lynx roaming the native landscape have long since passed, thus meaning deer now effectively have no natural predator (other than humans). Moreover, increasingly temperate winters due to climate change and an abundance of year-round available food sources from intensive agriculture systems, mean that additional young are born, with an increasingly higher chance of first year survival. The result of which is that all six deer species in the UK (Red, Roe, Sika, Fallow, Chinese Water Deer and Muntjac) are causing considerable amounts of damage to farmland, forestry, ecology and wider biodiversity and nature conservation. This article will focus principally on their impact to the forestry sector and the subsequent reasoning behind, methods and benefits of population management and control.
What is deer control?
Deer remain an important species in the landscape and can benefit our ecosystems and biodiversity. Yet, without any natural predation, population control becomes a necessity. In simple terms, deer control can be defined as humane culling carried out by trained stalkers. However, broader management principles also include, but are not limited to following a prescribed management plan, undertaking habitat impact assessments and population counts. Targets are set for each year to remove a sustainable proportion of the population, first culling any unhealthy or injured individuals, before targeting an agreed proportion of female and male animals (within the correct season for each species).
What problems do deer cause in forestry?
Economic
Deer are currently associated with causing a series of multi-faceted problems in UK woodlands. In terms of economics, losses are estimated at £4.5 million per annum in forestry from browsing, fraying and eating young trees (BBC Countryfile, 2023). For instance, high levels of browsing pressure and fraying can cause significant tree losses in restocking areas, leading to substantial outlay on replacement trees, labour and protective measures including fencing, shelters and repellent. The need for additional protection brings its own environmental challenges too including plastic and material waste.
Ecological
Excessive deer populations can also have an adverse impact on woodland vegetation and structure, supressing natural regeneration, coppice regrowth and ground flora (Forest Research, 2020). This can cause long-term damage to woodland soils, vegetation structures and native flora.
Social
Annually, between 40,000 and 74,000 road traffic accidents involve deer in the UK, with an associated 10 – 20 human fatalities (British Deer Society, 2024). Additionally, incidents of Lymes disease are on the rise, with deer known as prominent carriers of ticks.
Deer health
If deer populations are left to increase, an animal welfare issue can also present itself. Too much competition for resources can lead to a reduction in available food and nourishment, with deer thus becoming prone to disease or even starvation.
The benefits of control
Regular and sustained deer management can act to reduce and mitigate against all the adverse impacts discussed above. From a forestry perspective, a well-managed and sustainable deer population creates the ideal framework to create and maintain multi-purpose woodlands inclusive of timber production, biodiversity and nature conservation, landscape and amenity and public recreation to name but a few.
Wild venison
The social imperative to cull deer is only enhanced by the added potential for putting venison into the food chain. In addition to being free range, high quality, low in saturated fats and cholesterol and an excellent source of protein, wild sourced venison is perhaps one of the most sustainable meats available for consumption in the UK. Given the aforementioned need to manage our (over) prosperous deer populations, the production and consumption of venison is beneficial to maintaining stable and healthy populations, whilst also reducing impacts on the natural environment.
Support, training and grant funding
It is vital that deer control is undertaken by experienced and trained stalkers who can ensure the culling is humane, correctly recorded and the carcass properly handled. Increasing support and intensity has therefore been allocated to deer management in recent years through both public and private sources. Funding through the Countryside Stewardship WS1: Deer Management and Control supplement has been significant in providing financial support for producing management plans, employing professional stalkers and purchasing high seats amongst a suite of other benefits. The Forestry and Arboriculture Training fund has also provided a platform for people seeking to develop their knowledge and skillsets to apply for funding to undertaken courses including first aid, Deer Stalking Certificates 1 and 2 and carcass butchery.
Conclusion
The overriding message from this article is that population control is a critical land management tool in the modern landscape. Without any natural predation and the multitude of adverse impacts of overpopulation, the necessity for sustained intervention is clear. Deer management is not undertaken to eradicate them from the landscape, but to reduce the risks their high populations cause to themselves, our woodlands, landscape and people.
References
BBC Countryfile, 2023, Deer culling in Britain: what's the problem and why are deer culled? (Online) Source: https://www.countryfile.com/wildlife/mammals/deer-culling-in-britain
British Deer Society, 2024, Deer Vehicle Collisions (Online). Source: https://bds.org.uk/information-advice/issues-with-deer/advice-for-drivers/
Forest Research, 2020, Understanding deer damage is crucial when planting new forests (Online) Source: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/news/understanding-deer-damage-is-crucial-when-planting-new-forests/
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