New study on deer damage

The UK’s increasing roe deer population could be having a detrimental impact on woodland vegetation and bird abundance, according to the results of a new study by a team from Durham University and the Food and Environment Research Agency.

Researchers presented their findings to the British Ecological Society’s recent annual meeting of data collected on vegetation cover, diversity and abundance at 35 woodland sites across England during May and June 2011 and 2012. Each of the sites is part of the Breeding Bird Survey scheme, giving the researchers further access to bird and deer abundance data. The study is thought to be the first in the UK to examine the possible impact of one particular species of deer on the natural environment.

The study found that sites with the highest abundance of roe deer had the lowest shrub layer vegetation cover and, similarly, a lower number of birds. The co-author of the study, Durham University’s Georgina Palmer, stated that it is too early to say for sure if roe are causing a reduction in shrub cover and, consequently, bird abundance, or whether roe deer are more strongly associated with woodlands with open shrub layers.

The rest of this article appears in the 9th January issue of Shooting Times.

What is YOUR opinion?

Join other ST readers in our forums to discuss your views.

Like this article? Mark this page on a social bookmarking website…