Deer
About deer
Deer are the largest wild mammals in the UK. They range from Muntjac, which is about the size of a small dog, to Red Deer which stands at about the height of a pony. They include: Roe, Fallow, Sika and Chinese Water Deer as well. They are an important and established part of the natural environment although some are classed as invasive species.
They tend to roam over wide areas, the boundaries of which overlap those of human occupation. Having deer on your land doesn't necessarily imply ownership although it may create obligations to your neighbours and the wider public. Since the last war, patterns of farming, EU subsidies and policies as well as patterns of rural and semi-urban occupation have combined to create an environment that is very friendly to deer and has allowed their populations to grow quite steadily.
Since deer have no natural predators in the UK, it is mainly hunting and natural death which keeps them under control, although road traffic accidents are playing an increasing part. Larger parcels of land tend to have a Deer Management Plan and the managers will selectively cull out the old, weak and any imbalance in sexes on a yearly basis to keep numbers and damage under control.
Why are they a problem?
Unmanaged deer populations can often cause a serious nuisance to urban gardens, extensive damage to crops and woodland and instigate potentially fatal car accidents when crossing roads in the dark.
How do Microbee manage deer?
- We can and do monitor numbers for clients with larger land holdings and are able to give a report on the potential impact of the presence of deer on a property and suggest ways which can help provide a sensibly managed population and environment.
- We can erect fencing alongside areas of dangerous road boundaries such as blind bends where a deer emerging from undergrowth might cause or get involved in an accident. These would have the effect of guiding deer along the fence to a point of greater visibility for the driver and one where the deer feel secure in waiting.
- We can protect tree species of particular value from browsing and bark damage.
- We can treat planting and shrubs with taste deterrents to prevent or reduce browsing.
- We can monitor and cull deer as part of a management plan designed to prevent over-pressure damaging their health and the surrounding environment.
- We can also, where a deer has been injured in a car accident and strayed on to your private land, attend and humanely kill the animal.
Sadly, this kind of intervention is sometimes necessary. Whilst we would urge landowners to take steps to try and prevent these accidents occurring, we do recognise that there are situations where nothing can be done except humane dispatch. In this situation, if it has to be done, better that it is done quickly and well by someone skilled and qualified for the job.
While we are readily capable of responding quickly to an emergency, we would prefer that clients seek our advice well in advance and try to manage their transient deer in a proactive way. Please call us to arrange a visit to survey and discuss the situation.
How can I protect my garden from deer?
American-style garden enclosures are fruit-cage or tennis-court style enclosures which can be erected in or around gardens to exclude deer. They are relatively cheap and very effective. They can be used to protect special areas of garden or the entire perimeters of smaller gardens.
