Deer species

Background information on all four species of wild deer in Scotland can be found on the about Scotland's deer web page.   

There are a number of specific management issues associated with individual species of wild deer.

Roe - moorland winter mortality

Roe deer are traditionally associated with woodlands and agricultural land on low lying ground. Over the last 10 years anecdotal evidence suggested that there was an increasing population on moorlands particularly in Perthshire, Angus and the Grampians.

The snows of this 2009-10 winter were the heaviest and longer lying than has been experienced in a number of years. It would appear that a large proportion of the roe in these upland moors have not survived.

Sika - interbreeding with native red deer

Sika are not native to the United Kingdom having escaped from collections brought across form Asia. Sika (Cervus nippon) is very closely related to the native red deer (Cervus elaphus) so much so that they can interbreed and produce hybrids.

Generally hybrids tend to be the result of sika males crossing with red hinds. Although first generation hybrids may be recognisable as having the appearance of both parents, subsequent crosses are difficult to assess which generally makes selective culling difficult.

Where there is local agreement, the spread of sika and the damage that can cause will be minimised through active management, particularly through the control of pioneering stags.

In order to conserve some red deer populations, as free from sika genes as possible, islands off the west coast of Scotland have been designated as red deer refugia. These will be monitored for the presence of sika genes and their status maintained through statutory orders to prohibit introductions.