In an attempt to tackle Scotland’s environmental problems, the Scottish Wildlife Agency is introducing a very special pilot project. Hunters will reportedly be paid to kill more deer in designated areas. Sky NewsOver the past 50 years, deer numbers have increased significantly due to the absence of natural predators and milder winters due to climate change.
The spread of deer has had a negative impact on forests and wildlife in Scotland. With so many deer eating tree planting seedlings and other animal habitats, the country is facing a wildlife loss crisis.
To address this problem, the programme aims to encourage hunters in two specific areas. One targets roe deer near Glasgow and Stirling, while the other targets invasive sika deer in native and commercial woodland on the south-east side of Loch Ness. The aim is to reduce the deer population by 25 per cent, or 50,000 per year, over several years.
A positive first step?
Bruce Wilson, head of policy at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, welcomed the plan and stressed the importance of paying hunters a fair wage for their expertise in managing deer populations. He hopes the approach will be rolled out nationally in the future.
These schemes will run from now until March 2025, with the aim of repeating them in the following two winters before assessing their impact. As part of these trials, the agency will also investigate how to increase the supply of venison.
Scotland is facing a wildlife loss crisis, and unsustainable deer numbers are exacerbating the problem. The Agriculture Secretary has admitted that large numbers of deer are continuing to destroy vegetation. This pilot conservation programme aims to tackle biodiversity loss by 2030 and restore nature across Scotland by 2045.
Key points
• The Scottish Wildlife Agency is piloting a scheme to pay hunters to kill more deer in designated areas.
• The goal is to reduce the deer population by 25 percent, or 50,000 per year, over several years.
• The programme aims to address the negative impact of deer on forests and wildlife in Scotland.
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