Scottish countryside in a rut over rising deer population

Wild deer numbers are now at record levels, causing ever-increasing impact on the Scottish countryside and are responsible for a rising toll of road traffic accidents, according to an independent report published by WWF and RSPB.

The report, 'Impacts of Wild Deer in Scotland', found that many landowners have not controlled deer numbers adequately and the Deer Commission does not have sufficient powers and resources to deal with the situation.

"Deer are a public asset and they have an important place in a balanced landscape," Pete Mayhew, Senior Conservation Manager for RSPB Scotland, said.

"People love to see deer in the woods and on the open hill, but the three main species of deer in Scotland - red, sika and roe - are at their highest numbers since the war and are still increasing. This rising number has to be addressed as it has implications for everyone who works, lives and enjoys the wildlife in rural Scotland."

WWF and RSPB are calling on the Scottish Executive to: strengthen and simplify the Deer Commission’s control powers and duties; increase the Commission’s resources; and set a target to achieve a significant and stable reduction of deer and a fully effective control regime by 2009, the 50th anniversary of the Deer (Scotland) Act, 1959.

The Red Deer Commission was set up 44 years ago to deal with the deer population, but since then red deer numbers have trebled – with serious implications for rural Scotland, the report claims.

Forestry, agriculture and the rural economy incur greater costs owing to the ever-increasing number of deer and the widespread damage they cause to the habitat of a range of other wildlife, especially in woodlands, according to the research.

The report claims that the number of road accidents in the whole of the UK caused by collisions or near misses with deer is estimated at between 20,000 and 42,000 annually. A high proportion of these will be from Scotland as it supports the bulk of wild deer populations.

(gmcg)