Peri-urban deer project

 

Summary

This project examines the interaction of roe deer with people in Scotland’s peri-urban environments, by bringing together a broad range of relevant information relating to the ecological and social driving forces that affect this interaction. This will be undertaken through the conduct of substantial primary research and analysis of secondary data obtained through consultation with other stakeholding organisations.

The project is focused upon the Central Scotland Forest Trust (CSFT) area (see map) and aims to investigate the newly emergent issues relating to deer and their management as they move into peri-urban areas. 

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The continuing expansion of urban areas, increased deer habitat formation (through projects such as the Forestry Commission’s ‘Woodlands In and Around Towns’), along with the increasing geographical distribution of deer is leading to increased interaction between people and deer - all in an environment where usual management methods may be more difficult to practice and less popular with communities.

The project will engage directly with local communities seeking information on their interactions with deer, and their preferences for management strategies.  Positive interactions may include the pleasure of a wildlife encounter, whilst negative points include deer welfare, particularly following recent incidents where deer have been set upon by dogs and similar acts of cruelty, road traffic accidents, and the browsing of gardens, parks and cemeteries. We will also be seeking engagement with local deer managers and asking them to comment upon our outputs.

Research objectives

• Establish the distribution and scale of the peri-urban roe deer population within the CFST area
• Increase knowledge of public attitudes to deer-human interactions within peri-urban areas
• Use thermal imaging techniques within two case study areas, Ravenscraig and Linlithgow to assess roe deer population density / distribution:
  
  Photo by Jamie Cordery
• Develop a ‘responsibility framework’ for deer management in these areas, which will help to identify appropriate stakeholder groups and preferred management policies.

Funders and partners

The project is funded by the Deer Commission Scotland through the Scottish Government.

Status

The project started in November 2007 and will run for 18 months.

Contact

Norman Dandy
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: 01420 22255
Email: norman.dandy@forestry.gsi.gov.uk