Aim:

A socio-ecological study of deer management in England and Wales

A lone tree with blue sky behind

Project Description

Deer are a significant challenge to woodland establishment. Therefore, those involved in woodland and deer management must be supported with clear advice and guidance.

We collected almost 4,000 responses from an anonymous questionnaire that sought to investigate people’s perceptions of wild deer across England and Wales.

We worked closely with deer managers and academics to codevelop predictive models of damage risk to woodlands by different deer species. It also worked with potential users of the support tool we were developing in the Elwy Valley, North Wales, to refine and test it. This pilot ensured the project’s outcomes were grounded, practical and relevant.

What we discovered...

  • We developed the iDeer Tool, which maps deer damage risk and provides actionable insights to reduce harm to woodlands and farmland. It enables stakeholders to output and compare risk maps, enabling them to make informed decisions about managing their land whilst also considering impacts on neighbours and the broader landscape.
  • Differences in beliefs and acceptance of lethal and non-lethal management practices to control wild deer may be linked to the nature of people’s involvement in land management.
  • Difficulties in collaborative management are more related to differences in people’s views of deer, deer management, and land management objectives than financial reasons.
  • Accounting for people’s beliefs and land management needs is essential for successful wild deer population control.

Project Lead(s)

Dr Becks Spake, University of Reading

Project Website

https://www.research.reading.ac.uk/iDeer/team/