As well as representing the height of the mushroom harvest, mid-October is the time to hear and see some of our largest mammals. Woods, moors and parkland are currently ringing to the sound of strange bellows as magnificent ly-antlered stags compete in the annual rut -and here I am deeply endebted to Sophie Pickford for her wonderful image taken last week . . .
While deer have always roamed the British countryside, a recent study by the University of East Anglia found we now have more of these creatures than at any time since the last Ice Age. Until some 500 years ago native predators such as wild boar and wolves kept the population under control. After these disappeared in the late Middle Ages, numbers were kept in check by hunting by humans.
Recently the intensity of the human culling has dropped off, thanks in part to strict controls on the powerful rifles required to kill such large creatures. This and introductions – both intended and accidental – coupled with natural increase has seen the population explode to around 1.5 million.
Britain has six deer species. Only the red and the roe are native. Fallow were introduced by the Normans, partially for hunting and partially for food in the days before cattle, sheep and pigs had been improved by selective breeding. Next to arrive were sika, introduced from Japan, during the 19th century to boost stalking in the Highlands (these have bigger antlers). Then about 100 years ago muntjac and Chinese water deer escaped from private zoos to become established in the wild.
Until recently it has been almost impossible to assess how many deer we have because they are shy, nocturnal, woodland creatures. The latest research uses thermal imaging to give a more accurate idea of numbers and this reveals that all six of Britain’s species are increasing rapidly.
This gives rise to obvious concerns. Foresters fear their impact on woodland, due to their love of saplings’ growing tips and soft bark. Farmers are also justifiably worried about crop damage (it is very difficult and expensive to exclude deer from arable crops) and disease transmission. And many suburban gardeners are already all-too familiar with the devastation roe and muntjac can cause to shrubs.
Even conservationists dread their impact on woodland habitats. The dog-sized muntjac is of particular concern. It originates from China and was first released 100 years ago at Woburn Abbey by the Dukes of Bedford. It is now common across England below the Mersey/Humber line and is penetrating Wales and up into the Peak Distict. These can devastate coppices by nipping off shoots and have a particular taste for bluebell bulbs.
As a result the UEA researchers are calling for a 50% cull in order to protect vulnerable habitats such as ancient woodland. This represents a big jump from the previous Deer Initiative which had previously said that maintaining a static population will require a cull of at least 20% of the population for the larger species (red, fallow, sika), and a cull of around 30% of the population for roe, muntjac and Chinese water deer.
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