Agency calls for culling of 500,000 deer
DEER numbers in the Westcountry could drop dramatically under plans for a nationwide cull of 500,000 of the animals.
The Deer Initiative has said Exmoor is one of the areas worst affected by rising numbers of deer, which are causing havoc to the countryside, destroying woodland, crops and gardens.
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The Deer Initiative wants a cull to bring the numbers down from almost two million, due to the damage they cause in rural areas
The Government-backed organisation believes the only way to halt further destruction is to increase the numbers culled to 500,000, an increase of around 350,000.
An absence of natural predators, tree-planting schemes and a series of mild winters are all thought to have contributed to the rise in deer numbers.
Peter Watson from the Deer Initiative, which advises landowners on managing the animals, told The Sunday Telegraph the culls were not keeping up with the number of deer, which is up to almost two million nationally.
He said: "We need to be culling about 500,000 deer and we are not even close to that. There is a significant number of lowland woodlands that are in unsatisfactory condition because of deer impacts.
"It is in those areas where we are working with the landowners to get the habitat back into a better condition."
Deer Initiative spokesman for the South West, Norman Healy, said culling has to be done to restore balance to the countryside.
"Quite a lot of damage has been done to the ancient woodland on Exmoor," he said.
"Deer can have an impact on all kinds of habitat. Eventually, if nothing is done, we will lose that habitat. To make sure that doesn't happen, we have to find the right balance between deer and the habitat."
He also said that over the years, deer numbers have risen dramatically. "The deer population in the South West has probably double or trebled," he said.
The cull proposals have proved controversial with John Robins, from the campaign group Animal Concern. Speaking in The Sunday Telegraph, he said: "Not enough has been done to look at alternatives to lethal control, like giving deer contraceptives.
"In some areas, culling practices are totally unacceptable in a civilised society. We are extremely concerned that some culls are of pregnant deer and hinds when they are feeding calves."
3 Comments
by Giles Bradshaw, Rose Ash
Wednesday, November 19 2008, 10:08AM
“I use a non lethal means of reducing the damage deer do to my coppiced woodland. I simply take my dogs round them on a regular basis which flushes out the deer. I have spoken to Defra about this and under the Hunting act my activities are only legal if I then shoot the deer. I've spoken to several labour MPs about why this is the law and none of them have a clue.”
by sean, Kernow
Monday, November 17 2008, 9:37PM
“Ivor, has a good point; although I certainly wouldn't want 'gun enthusiasts' takiung pot shots at these creatures.
Perhaps if the cull needs to take place, the meat can be sold off and the money reinvested into the woodlands.. just driving over Bodmin and dartmoot, I have noticed quite a few woodlands up for sale, if these could be aquired through the sale of the meat and turned into say scientific research centres for schools, universities etc.
My point being at a time when we are all looking for alternatives, I would quite happily trade a rumb steak for a bit of bambi! Knowing my money is going to good use... rather than just to kill 500,000 animals for nothing!”
by Ivor Thompson, Menai, NSW Australia
Monday, November 17 2008, 8:03PM
“If a cull needs to be carried out in the name of land care and to help protect the species than a cull is jusified if caried out by true gun enthusiasts and the meat is used.
Venison is a very good lean meat and there would be a ready market for it in the UK and Europe.”