The British Deer Society has a remit to engage with all and every deer welfare issue. From sound management training through to campaigns on deer vehicle collisions (DVC) and poaching awareness the Society identifies the issue and attempts to influence outcomes for the good of deer and the environment. Media monitoring of the press and internet and contact by the general public via email and telephone has, over the last few years become a steady stream with the message that deer are entering towns and the urban fringe in increasing numbers. This can bring problems for both humans and deer - DVC increases, deer damage to gardens, deer trapped in railings and fences and deer drowning in swimming pools and canals to name but a few.

In the light of this the Society decided host a seminar entitled "The Rise of Urban Deer" in London at the home of the Linnean Society in Burlington House. Held in November the Seminar was directed at an invited audience of interested organisations and individuals. Representatives were present from both pubic and private bodies including Defra, The Forestry Commission, the Deer Initiative, The Deer Commission for Scotland, The Emergency Services and the press. Individuals included vets, foresters and professional stalkers. The seminar was broadly divided into two parts. In the morning the scene was set by a number of lectures then, in the afternoon, short introductory talks to provoke discussion were given which were then Chaired by the speaker. The aim was to seek outcomes from the day and avoid the creation of yet another talking shop.

The programme for the day is outlined below:

MORNING SESSION: SPREAD AND IMPACTS OF DEER IN SUBURBIA (Chair David Kenyon)

10.35 The rise of UK deer populations in relation to urban areas with special reference to Sheffield (Alastair Ward, CSL Defra & Ian Rotherham, Sheffield Hallam University )

11.00 The Peri-urban Deer Project in Scotland (Norman Dandy, Forestry Commission)

11.25 Deer Vehicle Collisions in Peri-urban areas: A Risky Life for Deer (Jochen Langbein)

11.55 Disease, health and other animal welfare issues arising (Peter Green)

12.15 Further questions & discussion of morning topics

12.30 Aims and arrangements for afternoon sessions (Chair)

AFTERNOON SESSION:

13.45 - 14.25 Discussion Session 1: Legal and other logistic problems for urban deer control

13.45 - 13.55 Introductory address & Chair (Charlie Wilson, Natural England)

13.55 - 14.25 Open Discussion - including firearms issues arising.

14.30 - 14.35 Urban Animal Rescue Case Study (Chair Jochen Langbein)

14.35 - 15.00 Hants Fire and Rescue Services' role in dealing with deer and other animal related incidents (Jim Green - Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service)

15.20 Discussion Session 2: Fertility control / translocation /and other alternatives to lethal control

15.20 - 15.35 Introductory address & Chair Peter Green

15.25 - 16.00 Open Discussion

16.00 Discussion Session 3: Communications: Public Perception - Getting the message across

16.10 - 16.15 Introductory remarks & chair - (Graham Downing)

16.15 - 16.30 Open Discussion

16.30 - 16.45 Final Discussion: Outcomes - (Chair Mark Nicolson)

Alastair Ward began the day with his description of the influx of deer into the urban fringe. He demonstrated the range expansion and discussed factors which influenced distribution including habitat availability and preferences, inter-species competition and some of the issues thrown up by the incursion of deer. Alistair concluded with the message that "deer are in out cities and will become a bigger issue over time"

Norman Dandy from Forest Research described ongoing research into "the management of roe deer in peri-urban Scotland". The project is designed to examine the scale of the issues and to provide evidence upon which to form plans for the future. The key objective was "To provide guidance on procedures to manage the interaction of people and deer" and Norman outlined a "responsibility framework" through which decision makers can identify;

o (i) relevant local issues,

o (ii) their distribution,

o (iii) relevant local stakeholders, and

o (iv) potential solutions/responsibilities

Jochen Langbein, who helped organise the seminar and who is well known to the Society, focused on DVC in urban areas demonstrating that urban collisions are a fact and that the majority of DVC through out the country in fact occur on the town and cities margins where both car and deer numbers are increasing. He described how the use of several measures including exclusion and driver education would be required in order to help mitigate the problem.

To download a pdf of Jochen Langbein's presentation click Here

Finally in the morning Peter Green our Hon Veterinary Advisor gave us an interesting explanation of the diseases carried by deer and the likelihood of their being transmissible to humans. He outlined some of the effects of the urbanisation of deer which included the potential for malnutrition, stress, attack from humans and dogs and the potential for injury caused by fences and railings.

The afternoon session began with Charlie Wilson from Natural England who led a discussion on legal and logistical problems involved with the management of deer in an urban context. He described the current response to deer issues as reactive and urged the need for it to become proactive. There was an "increasing public intolerance of lethal control" which needed to be addressed and that management needed to be tailored to specific problems. "Organisations need to be more bold and truthful and must not shy away from the media and the realities of deer management".

Jim Green from the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Animal Rescue team outlined the increase in animal rescue call outs in their area and the protocols which had been developed for the emergency services when dealing with distressed or injured animals. Now in its third year the specialist Animal Rescue team have seen deer related call outs jump from two in 2005 to nine in 2008. He identified issues of public safety, stress to the animal and, following a point made by Professor Rory Putman the seminar explored the issue of research into post release mortality and the possible development of a "Release Code of Practice".

Peter Green took to the floor again in the afternoon and led a discussion on the application of Immuno-Contraception and chemical sterilisation. The seminar agreed that these were expensive options and were likely to be impractical in all but the most rare of circumstances. Nevertheless it was considered important to include them in a tool kit of options which could be presented to stakeholders such as local authorities and councils.

The final discussion of the day revolved around public perception and was chaired by Graham Downing. The seminar agreed that a major effort was required to bring about change in the public view of deer management and the lethal option in particular. There was a call for some of the major organisations who conduct culling and management to stand up and be counted. That we should look for allies; celebrity chefs, sports and TV personalities amongst others who could influence the debate. It was also clear that we needed to target more than one audience with tailored messages aimed at the general pubic but also at the correct individuals and organisations in authority "speak to the right person - give them the right message".

The seminar concluded with a summary by the Society Chairman Mark Nicolson. He was pleased that those interested in deer had gathered and contributed to a very successful day where the issue of urban deer had been well aired and where the deer industry were very much setting the agenda. He looked forward to progressing the subject in the future.

OUTCOMES

The society would lead, alongside others, in the production of a Release Code of Practice.

That the Society would take a lead in the enhancement of the Emergency Services Protocols to include more guidance on deer.

That the deer sector should develop a "tool kit" approach to offer authorities and stakeholders a range of solutions as deer impacts increase in urban areas.

That the deer sector should develop a media strategy to tackle current mis-perceptions about deer issues.

What next?

With the report on the Peri-urban deer research due to be published in May 2009 the Society would review the need for a follow up seminar to examine the results. Watch this space!

(This article first appeared in the Deer Journal Winter 2008 edition)