Soaring Deer Populations

England's deer population is soaring thanks to recent mild winters, combined with more eco-friendly farming patterns. There are now roughly twice as many roe deer as ten years ago, twice as many fallow deer, and three times as many muntjac.

Deer Population Figures (1995-2003):

	1995	2003

Chinese Water Deer	650	5,000
Fallow Deer	95,000	250,000
Muntjac Deer	52,000	150,000
Red Deer	12,500	20,000
Roe Deer	150,000	300,000
Sika Deer	2,500	10,000

The damage to crops and woodland has reached a point where Defra has drawn up proposals to extend by a fortnight the seasons (varying according to species) during which deer may legally be culled. Shortening the annual "close" period will allow orphaned fawns to be killed and should help stem the ever increasing populations.

The proposals will also allow licenced killing of deer during the protected period if natural heritage or health and safety of the general public is directly threatened.

The measures have drawn criticism from animal welfare groups, who fear they will lead to a surge in people hunting purely for sport. The RSPCA have given a cautious welcome to a humane cull in situations where there is clear evidence of over-populated areas.

With wild deer populations growing rapidly in parts of the country despite annual culls, millions of pounds' worth of damage is being caused to agriculture. They are damaging some of our most threatened woodland habitats, and are currently directly attributable to more than 300 injuries on Britain's roads.

The current laws were framed when deer numbers were smaller. They no longer promote effective, sustainable deer management. The new proposals will ensure that the right balance is struck between conserving deer and effectively addressing the problems they cause.