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Deer in and around towns

Due to the increasing spread of low ground deer populations, in particular roe deer in urban areas, there has been a need to better understand the implications of this for both deer and people.

Understanding these interactions is a growing area of work for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). 

Recent research

The Management of Deer in Peri-urban Scotland external site   was completed by Forest Research in 2009. This pioneering piece of research looked to better understand the range of often complex issues that arise when deer and people try to live together in and around towns.

The peri-urban area is defined as the mosaic of mixed land uses including housing, transport, industrial, agriculture and forestry that can be found around our towns. Growing numbers of deer are moving into these areas and the report tried to better understand the impacts of this on both deer and on people. The project focused on how people interact with deer rather than just looking at practical deer management. It sought to see if there was a way to encourage new ways to think about, appreciate and where needed manage deer.

Through a range of questionnaires and focus groups the positive and negative impacts of deer were explored with the help of local communities. Options for management were also discussed. A means to encourage greater involvement, understanding and future planning for deer management was proposed. This is currently being tested with both local authority and private estate involvement in the West Lothian area.

Looking ahead

SNH will:

  • Continue to work with a range of local authorities to promote awareness and education on the potential deer issues;
  • Develop appropriate and site specific solutions for issues such as deer vehicle collisions, damage, wildlife crime and deer welfare;
  • Develop a specific set of Best Practice guidance for all those looking to understand and manage deer in and around towns to help people better understand this growing challenge;
  • Provide advice and support to those areas where actual deer management is carried out particularly where there are challenges such as high levels of public access and the potential for media involvement;
  • Developing a count programme utilising technology in thermal imaging to better understand the scale and distribution of these rapidly expanding deer populations. This will provide data from which to focus future work and management decisions.

As the Central Scotland Green Network continues to grow and deer populations will reflect this, SNH will be in a stronger position to offer robust advice to deer managers and members of the public, right the way through to local authorities and property developers on these issues.