Thousands of red deer could starve to death or be shot in large numbers if severe winter conditions continue, a leading stalker has warned.
Professional Lochaber stalker and wildlife photographer Iain Thornber said yesterday: “Thousands of deer were killed last year in these circumstances, on top of which many died because of the lack of food and shelter.
“As the population is now so low, if the same happens again this year through prolonged bad weather, several generations will be wiped out and may never re-establish themselves.”
Mr Thornber, of Knock House, Lochaline, on the Morvern peninsula, added: “This will be disastrous for rural areas where stalkers are about the only people who now live and work in many remote glens.”
A spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage said: “Deer are reasonably well equipped to deal with the vagaries of the Scottish weather. We are not presently concerned about the impact that current conditions will have on the health of Scotland’s deer.
“Last year, the prolonged effects of the extreme weather resulted in higher mortality than normal through starvation and malnutrition, but it is important to recognise that some natural mortality in Scotland’s wild deer population is inevitable.”
The spokesman added: “Deer management is challenging for land managers in these types of conditions but we would urge that, where practically possible, the hind cull is continued, concentrating on those animals that are in poorer condition.
“Most deer managers will be alert to all the options that they can utilise: shooting, feeding, provision of shelter and a considered do-nothing option.”
Mr Thornber has called on the countryside agency, which has taken over responsibility for deer welfare from the Deer Commission Scotland, to urge Holyrood ministers to ban the sale of wild venison before the end of the year.
He said a real fear among stalkers was that deer would start accessing Forestry Commission Scotland plantations in search of food and shelter, as they had done last winter, and would be shot in large numbers.
He said: “It is not only farmers who fear a repeat of winter problems. Gamekeepers, stalkers and landowners throughout Scotland are concerned that thousands of red deer will die this winter if the cold weather continues.
“There were substantial deaths last winter as deer tried to find nourishment in Scotland’s coldest winter in a century. Many estates stopped shooting by Christmas to avoid disturbing them in their desperate struggle to find food and shelter.
“The hind-shooting season on unenclosed land runs until February 14 but, by then, the majority of pregnant hinds struggle just to survive. If they are disturbed while they are in poor condition and chased out to open hillsides, many will die through starvation and deprivation.”
Mr Thornber added: “Although deer are associated with harsh landscapes, by November they have little fat and low energy reserves to fall back on in prolonged cold weather.”
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