Deer
Learn how to protect trees from: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), sika deer (Cervus nippon), fallow deer (Dama dama), Reeve’s muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) and Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis).
The UK has 6 species of deer. Red deer and roe deer are native to the UK. Fallow deer were introduced by the Normans around the 11th century. Chinese water deer, sika deer, and Reeve’s muntjac were all introduced within the last 200 years.
Deer populations in the UK are considered to be larger and more concentrated than ever before. This is partly due to the lack of natural predators to regulate their numbers, and milder winters have increased their survival rates and breeding success.
Management of deer in the England is regulated by the .
Roe deer
- (common)
- (common)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
Red deer
- (most common)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found; where these form part of their range)
- (only occasionally)
Sika deer
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (only occasionally)
Fallow deer
- (only occasionally)
- (frequently found)
- (frequently found)
- (only occasionally)
- (most common)
Reeve’s muntjac
- (only occasionally)
- (most common);
- (frequently found)
- (only occasionally)
- (frequently found)
Chinese water deer
- (only occasionally)
- (only occasionally)
Deer are often selective feeders and can impact certain flora, habitats, or areas disproportionately.
Red deer, sika deer, and fallow deer mainly graze on grasses and sedges and have large home ranges. At high densities, they can cause significant damage quickly across wide areas.
Roe deer and Reeve’s muntjac are selective browsers, live in smaller groups, and are territorial.
Different deer can impact the same habitat in different ways. For example, some woodland ground flora are commonly eaten by Reeve’s muntjac but not by roe deer, which prefer other tree and plants.
Benefits: - at appropriate densities, deer can help create and maintain a diverse understorey, which can increase biodiversity - they can control dominant species such as brambles and holly and improve overall woodland habitat quality - bark stripping by larger deer species can help create nesting cavities for red-listed bird species, such as the marsh tit
However, high deer densities can lead to excessive browsing and grazing. This can reduce or eliminate the shrub layer, with consequences for other wildlife, such as birds, insects, and small mammals. High combined densities of deer and livestock may worsen damage.
Deer can also feed upon the seeds of certain tree species, which can have substantial impacts on seed reserves.
Browsing damage
Deer damage trees by browsing and grazing on buds, shoots, and foliage. This affects the trees ability to grow and survive. While some tree species, such as birch and beech are less palatable, when numbers are high or preferred food resources are scarce, more unpalatable species may be browsed.
At moderate deer densities, browsing often creates a distinct ‘browse line,’ at these heights:
- Reeve’s muntjac: up to 1 metre
- roe deer: up to 1.1 metres
- red deer, sika deer, and fallow deer: up to 1.8 metres
- Chinese water deer: insufficient evidence
Deer browsing damage can be distinguished from:
- sheep damage: sheep typically leave wool behind
- rabbit and hare damage: deer leave distinctive teeth marks
Fraying and bark stripping
Fraying and bark stripping can kill trees, increase disease risk, or create structural defects. The height of fraying is species-specific:
- Reeve’s muntjac: up to 1 metre
- roe deer: up to 1.2 metres
- fallow deer: up to 1.5 metres
- red deer and sika deer: up to 1.8 metres
- Chinese water deer: insufficient evidence
Other damage
At high densities, deer trampling can damage trees indirectly by changing the surface soil structure or damaging surface roots.
Widespread use
Lethal control: shooting.
Occasional use
Non-lethal control: diversionary feeding and nutrient supplementation.
In trial or development
Non-lethal control: immunocontraception.
Widespread use
Physical exclusion from an area: fencing.
Physical exclusion from an individual tree or shoot:
Any control must be conducted in line with animal welfare legislation such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Occasional use
Physical exclusion from an area: dead hedging.
Physical exclusion from an individual tree or shoot: bud protectors.
Sensory deterrents:
Vegetation management deterrents: vegetation control to reduce cover.
Any control must be conducted in line with animal welfare legislation such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Widespread use
Adapting harvesting and felling regimes: increasing the height of coppicing and pollarding.
Occasional use
Adapting harvesting and felling regimes: shelterwood, group, and single-tree felling.
Adapting planting pattern and choice:
- overstocking of trees
- planting diverse tree species
- willow pegs (or forks)
- clump (or sacrificial) planting
- sabre planting
Any control must be conducted in line with animal welfare legislation such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
Case studies, trials, and scientific research
Royal Forestry Society
.
Support, advice, and guidance
The Deer Initiative Partnership
.
Forestry Commission
Advice on effective deer management strategies.
A visual guide to deer damage in Britain.
Forest Research
.
Scottish Forestry
.
.
British Deer Society
.