Should shot deer be left to rot in the Scottish countryside?

Ecologists have sparked a debate in the Scottish countryside after a new report suggested that the bodies of shot deer be left to rot naturally in the countryside.

In Scotland, deer populations have been actively managed since 1959, primarily to reduce over-browsing. Currently, all four wild deer species present in Scotland - red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, and sika deer - are considered overabundant, though more exact numbers are still largely unknown.

Researchers at The University of Edinburgh and Yale University in the US argue that by removing the carcasses after being shot, it could undermine habitat restoration, as the bodies contain thousands of kilos of vital nutrients which benefit soil.

They estimated that 251,188 kg of calcium, 195,652 kg of nitrogen and 152,834 kg of phosphorus are lost across Scotland each year.

Of the three nutrients the study looked at, the loss of calcium was seen as having the biggest environmental impact, with deer culling supposedly stripping the land of more calcium than sheep farming. The researchers said low calcium soils can hinder both commercial and native woodland regeneration and can also impact birds, which experience declines in shell thickness in low calcium environments.

The research argues that landscapes within Scotland are already considered nutrient poor, which can limit plant growth in important habitats like regenerating woodlands. In parts of the country, this is treated with fertilisers.

Aside from recycling nutrients, carcasses bring other ecosystem benefits, such as being a food source for small predators and have been shown to distract predators away from the nests of ground nesting birds, researchers said.

An alternative solution proposed was to reduce the number of deer shot and allow deer to die naturally on the landscape. One researcher said a way to do this would be the reintroduction of natural predators, which remains a fiercely controversial subject among land managers and farmers.

Jake Swindells, Director of the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) said that while some predators may benefit from ‘the odd carcass’ being left out, the impact would be minimal.

He argued that carcasses being left out would be unsightly for other countryside users and expressed concern over any potential contamination of waterways and wetlands, a view shared by the Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG).

Mr Swindells said the proposal risks becoming ‘a cop out’, as despite implementing the cull, the Scottish Government has done little to normalise venison consumption.

He argues that focus should be placed on creating a mass market for venison, with the public sector being a prime target which falls in the Government’s remit. Venison is a healthy and sustainable source of protein with little carbon footprint and low food miles, and the Countryside Alliance has long campaigned for it to be served in hospitals and schools, among other public bodies.

In recent meetings with the Government, the SCA has questioned how the Government propose to support retailers in supplying venison to the general public, given the expected increase in culls. While there has been no definitive answer, the Government have stressed they welcome constructive input from stakeholder organisations to help implement this.

The SCA will continue to push for Government incentives and grants to be made available for the surplus of venison to enter the market, including a proper infrastructure of chillers, cold larders, and butchery services that would be needed to store and process good quality venison for human consumption. The SCA has also assisted the Scottish Government to roll out three trial incentive schemes in Scotland later this year. 

Image credit: George McDonald