It seems to be more widespread as the invasive species add to the problem. With only the Red and Roe being native they are being hugely supplemeted by the Fallow (romans bought it ), Muntjac (escaped from various menageires), Sika (ditto) and the Chinese Water deer (ditto ditto). There was aslo another a few years back called i believe the axis deer (or was it Atlas.?) anyway not heard of that for a few years.
Bottom line the Muntjac and Fallow are going nuts. Forestry conmmssion want them culled properly with yearly totals being as high as 30% in some areas.
They cause thousands of accidents on the roads each year and are frankly a pest at these levels.
Fencing may be a personal solution but it isnt a long term one given that we cant just fence off the whole of the countries woodlands. And im sorry but in my view its really unsightly to suround a whole wood with fencing (small cants fair enough).
The only effective solution is shooting by a qualified marksman and utilising the meat to go back into the economy, isnt that what used to happen all be it for the benefit of the largely privaleged Lordship and his entourage.
I live just outside a major city and Muntjac are everywhere, they can beeen seen walking up the main shoping streets at night and they live in rura l and urban gardens everywhere. The goverment introduced a restriction on their rerelease a few years back that stopped them being introduced North of i think Lincs but idots as they are they were already on the Scottish borders by then..prob 30 years too late. Chinese water deer are now as far North as Peterborough/Lincs border.
