U.K. deer populations

[gixer1]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

 

[willie_gunn]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

I've read estimates of the UK deer population at anywhere between 1 and 2.4 million, which tells you all you need to know about the accuracy of the number!

What is even stranger are those people who jump on the growing deer population to advocate for the reintroduction of wolves, lynx and other apex predators.

First, we don't have an accurate estimate of the population, and second, what use are apex predators outside of so-called wilderness areas?

 

[palmer_mike]

What are the above estimates based on, and who released the data?

I have no idea to be honest but my gut tells me that there isn’t really a reliable way to accurately estimate deer populations with a high degree of accuracy

 

[FISH BOY]

Nothing to back it up with, but to me the fallow, CWD and muntjac numbers stand out as they look seriously under estimated - by many multiples.

 

[StephenToast]

Nothing to back it up with, but to me the fallow, CWD and muntjac numbers stand out as they look seriously under estimated - by many multiples.

Agreed

And roe deer

 

[timbrayford]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

Total fantasy, why? You've actually got to go out and do some counting, not guess!

 

[maximus otter]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

My copy of Muntjac: Managing an Alien Species by Charles Smith-Jones is dated 2004, and gives the UK muntjac population as "...100,000, expanding at a rate of at least 10% a year." (p.12)

I'm not aware of a simple online calculator that factors in accidental mortality and death by old age, but I'm betting that today's muntjac population is a lot more than 100K.

maximus otter

 

[Kalahari]

That means we are up to 250,000 by now.

David.

 

[maximus otter]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

UK deer population 2009, as estimated by HM Government:

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-325/POST-PN-325.pdf

maximus otter

 

[Klenchblaize]

Fallow figure seems low.

K

 

[Essexsussex]

Agreed with those saying fallow seems low. We might have that many in the Home Counties. Doesn’t feel accurate.

 

[Deerkeeper2]

Ah, ok, Gov figures. I’d trust those 100%.

 

[Woodsy]

Fact or fiction? UK deer numbers are higher than ever - at 2 million

Since 2022 a story of 2 million deer and soaring deer populations in the UK has slowly been repeated (and repeated) - but is it the truth?

bds.org.uk

 

[Woodsy]

Drones: Improving our understanding and management of UK deer.

Drones are changing the way we count (survey) deer. Drones are helping us to massively improve our knowledge and management of UK deer.

bds.org.uk

 

[Cyres]

Pie in the sky figures. Last year talking to an estate owner who counted 400 + herd coming out of a single wood . Videos on here of similar size herds. I read somewhere that when drone thermal counts were done it showed population size vastly more than traditional count estimates. In all honesty I don't think it's possible to get a meaningful answer but there are a without doubt huge nos of deer in UK and the numbers are increasing.
D

 

[sako751sg]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

Pretty sure their CWD numbers are way out having seen how many there are in some pretty small areas.

 

[timbrayford]

UK deer population 2009, as estimated by HM Government:

https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-325/POST-PN-325.pdf

maximus otter

Pure conjecture!

 

[sako85708]

My copy of Muntjac: Managing an Alien Species by Charles Smith-Jones is dated 2004, and gives the UK muntjac population as "...100,000, expanding at a rate of at least 10% a year." (p.12)

I'm not aware of a simple online calculator that factors in accidental mortality and death by old age, but I'm betting that today's muntjac population is a lot more than 100K.

maximus otter

If its a "lot more than 100k" please send a few my way, they seem very scarce a round me !!

 

[VSS]

I’m the U.K., there are an estimated (not including park deer) -

500k Roe deer
350k Red deer
100k Fallow
40k Muntjac
12k Sika
1.5k CWD….

What are peoples thoughts on the accuracy, are there more or less of any particular species and if so why do you think this?

Regards,
Gixer

Given that there are individual herds of wild fallow numbering in the thousands (actual counts, not estimates), I should say that there are more fallow than your figures suggest.

 

[RJD]

CWD numbers crazily low, as are MJ