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As none of our deer species are rare, and in fact have to be culled in many areas, and are in the process of changing the nature of our woodlands by eating out the understory and new saplings, I can live with disturbance causing them a small drop in fecundity...

Agree with 1. I am not sure the point of either study as they appear to be minor peturbations on the larger issue of overgrazing and lack of regeration and reductions in biodiversity. Even casual walks in Scotland will show how fencing allows regeneration even of slower growing trees in apparently empty landscapes.

In keeping with the new effort to eradicate the mink (released by those idiots in ALF, who presumably had not thought through the damage they have had on otter, vole and other native populations), it is now well past time to eradicate the Chinese Muntjac deer (perhaps they can be sold as venison), which has a deleterious effect on wildlife in this country. There is now a long list of imported species, flora and fauna, with negative effects, two of the most startling being the Japanese knotweed and the American signal crayfish. Solve these problems and the natives will be happier, including deer. More than that, pre-emptive measures to keep such things out would be a spectacularly good idea, even if we would not notice the difference between non introduction and what might be if introduction of an alien species went ahead.

Anyone for Bodmin cats?

KZwert has said it all, and far better than I could!

I don't think having walking paths through make that much difference. I live in a house in the lake district and all my life, almost every night about 20 or so deer come out into the field across from my house, they aren't bothered if I'm outside or around, and are little effected by the cars going past next to the field.

Deer of nearly all species are both dangerous and destructive. Where I live in the US we have a large resident population in town, thanks to parks, greenways, and large back gardens filled with tasty plants. I was almost attacked by an aggressive male in my own yard this year during rutting season. I love animals, but deer should be culled, especially those in residential areas where they present a hazard. If they breed less due to contact with humans, so much the better, though they seem to have adapted very well around here.

Ermm reintroduce natural predators that got extinct in the meantime....

The first HYS, I've encountered not, as yet anyway, to be ruined by shear nonsensical statements. Definitely remove all non natives, but where to start or rather end it? Little Owl? well that does seem to have found a niche that lay un or under exploited by native species, the rabbit perhaps, no to much of our landscape is reliant on them now.

But Munt jack, mink, coypu, hogweed, rhododendron certainly, Sika, Fallow, chinese water et al.

As for predator reintroduction, has my wholehearted support, we know we can reintroduce if done correctly. There are a few islands with culled red deer populations that would make a good testing ground.

The best solution would be a mass cull of humanity. Starting with the type of people who think their life is somehow more valuable than other living things. Do you think a thousand deer do as much damage as a single human being? The amount of disposable nappies wasted on a single baby would do more damage than a herd of deer could in decades. What gives you the right to decide whether something else deserves to live or not?

I remember hearing about a nice man in Germany in the 30s and 40s who had a similar idea about making the world a better place by culling those whose lives he considered less valuable than his own people's and who in his eyes were just animals and destructive pests.

Mungo wrote:'I love animals, but deer should be culled, especially those in residential areas where they present a hazard.'

It never ceases to amaze me how intolerent we are of other species that adapt to our artificial environment...

I call Godwin's law...

I'm not sticking up for the ALF but mink escaped long before the ALF started releasing them,as did other harmful creatures.Anyone remember the coypu?

Ah yes, Godwin's Law. Curiously, though the Hoffman pyramid (developed by the Germans for decidely dubious purposes) is still used as a basis for culling deer populations according to age structure. While it serves its purpose among the younger cohorts it gets into difficulties at the top of the age range where you want to find more exceptional animals.