Fifteen wild deer 'hotspots' set to receive management units to control populations
Deer management will be implemented in each of the 15 hotspots to bring the wild deer population down to a sustainable level.
A contract to implement and deliver several recommendations from the Deer Management Strategy Group was awarded to FRS Co-Op in February of this year, which has now appointed local coordinators to lead the 15 units. They cover areas of the country with well-known hotspots for wild deer.
The Deer Management Strategy was developed in 2023 and included a range of recommendations for the ongoing management of Ireland's wild deer population to ensure it is maintained at a sustainable level.
The strategy was overseen and developed by a steering group that included representatives from the Department of Agriculture, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Coillte, farmer representatives and other key stakeholders.
The coordinators appointed by FRS Co-Op will work with landowners and licensed hunters within these areas. The co-op will not directly employ any hunters as part of its contract, but will oversee the coordination with local hunters and hunting groups who wish to participate in the deer management programme.
The locally based coordinators for each Deer Management Unit will be engaging with farmers and landowners to identify issues relating to deer that currently exist and help facilitate deer management for the area by engaging with local hunters.
Deer management units map
These units aim to control wild deer populations to a sustainable level to help protect Ireland's natural environment, improve biodiversity in our woodlands and other habitats, protect farmland, and contribute to improving human safety by reducing the number of road traffic accidents involving deer.
For the past number of decades, Ireland's wild deer population has increased significantly to the point where there is no accurate data on the exact deer population in the country at present.
Although there is no specific data, there has been clear evidence of the growth of wild deer populations due to increased incidences of negative impacts as a result of deer populations, such as biodiversity loss, damage to natural woodlands and farmland, and increased road accidents involving deer.
FRS Co-Op has established the Deer Management Units based on the available data, such as native woodland monitoring, commercial forest inventories, and road traffic accidents as a result of deer activity.
A survey conducted as part of the final Deer Management Strategy report found more than 80% of stakeholders identified biodiversity loss, damage to farmland and road traffic safety as either 'very' or 'somewhat important' issues relating to the growth in the national deer population.
Speaking on the announcement, manager of FRS Co-Op's deer management programme Michael Keegan said: 'I would urge landowners in deer hotspots to join a local deer management group or look to establish a deer management group for your area if one does not currently exist. FRS Co-Op is available to assist landowners seeking to establish local deer management groups.'
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