Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Deer night-vision cameras in Welsh forests as culling increases

The number of wild deer being culled in Wales has doubled in the past five years, according to officials.
It follows an explosion in deer populations, increasing by an estimated 25% a year in some parts of Wales.
The Forestry Commission in Wales (FCW) says about 1,000 have been shot over this winter.
The various breeds of deer have now become such a problem in Welsh woodlands that night-vision cameras will be used to monitor them.
The FCW said the new cameras would provide vital information about the movement of deer in forestry, where the animals can damage vegetation and trees.
David Jam, the FCW's wildlife management officer, said: "We base our culling on woodland impacts, so if we are getting high impacts in an area for a number of years and we are seeing a pattern there, then we need to increase the level of culling.
"When the woodland regenerates to a level where it can sustain a good population of deer then you can ease that culling pressure off.
"There is a balance - we don't just cull and cull and cull.

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