Species
(Capreolus capreolus)
The present population of roe deer in Britain is very difficult to estimate. Roe are highly secretive and visual counting of this species is normally too inaccurate to be useful. However, estimates of density suggest that suitable woodland can hold 0.51-0.72 animals per hectare. Using these figures and known culling rates from parts of Scotland, a figure of between 500,000 and 600,000 has been estimated for Britain (2).
If we assume that the bulk of our present roe population is tied to woodland for at least some of the time we might define as suitable habitat any kilometre square that includes at least 10 hectares of woodland - provided that the square does not also contain a significant portion of urban land. Within the roe's current range there are 30,500 square kilometres of such habitat, which includes 951,000 hectares of woodland altogether. Given a mean density of 0.61 deer per hectare of woodland, this suggests a roe population of 580,000 animals, which is very close to the current best estimate (2).
Outside the animal's current range there are 576,000 hectares of woodland within these parameters, suggesting a potential for a further 351,000 animals. A future roe population of over one million looks quite likely.
We consider it desirable to manage roe deer numbers for several reasons:
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Damage to crops, trees, gardens and woodland habitats is prevented
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Reduced-density populations of deer are generally healthier and more productive
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Roe deer venison provides a high-quality valuable game meat
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Useful, although not substantial, income for landowners can be derived from stalking and venison sales.
It should be remembered that, in Britain, the roe's main woodland predators (such as lynx) no longer exist and man's intervention for this species can be easily justified in ecological terms.
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Research needs
It is clear from the above that, despite a good deal of research right across the roe deer's range in Europe and Asia (3), there are still large gaps in our knowledge which compromise an effective national plan for this animal. The following areas in particular need investigation:
- The development of a better methodology for estimating numbers of this species.
- An understanding of how densities vary in relation to habitat.
- The relationship of productivity, mortality (especially road deaths) and dispersal with both habitat and density.
- The establishment of a more complete, scientifically based, national management strategy using knowledge gained from the above.
Conservation actions
- Government should recognise that for this and other deer species the best management solution is regular and systematic culling by landowners. Other damage prevention methods can be useful but will never provide an overall solution.
- Landowners with significant roe densities should recognise the need to set up appropriate management through stalking rather than relying on the vagaries of emigration and poaching to dispose of surplus young animals.
Sources and references
1 Prior, R. (1995) The Roe Deer. Swan Hill Press, Shrewsbury.
2 Harris, S., Morris, P., Wray, S. & Yalden, D. (1995) A review of British Mammals. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
3 Danilkin, A. & Hewison, A. J. M. (1995) Behavioural Ecology of Siberian and European Roe Deer. Chapman & Hall, London.
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