Cold Weather and Natural Mortality of Deer

Message from The British Deer Society: 

As weather forecasters keep on reminding us, we are currently experiencing the most prolonged cold spell of winter weather for a generation.  Among our six main deer species, the two that may be affected most by these adverse conditions are the non-native Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer.  For both of these species increased winter mortality has been found associated with prolonged cold and wet weather (e.g. Chapman et. al 1994; Cooke & Farrell (2000)), but none of the winters studied in detail have been quite so severe as the current one.  Hence rather than wait for isolated anecdotal reports of where deer are found dead, we hope readers of the BDS Bulletin will help us take this opportunity to gather some objective information on the level of natural winter mortality observed of especially (but not necessarily only) Muntjac and Chinese Water deer in different parts of the country during this cold spell and the following months; and with a view to perhaps repeating this simple survey in the same manner in other future years.

We'd be most grateful therefore to receive any reports from individuals or forest/estate managers of any deer found dead or dying from unknown causes during January to March 2010 (ideally by completing the attached form and sending it as an email attachment to j.langbein@btinternet.com).  Aside from mortality through cold and starvation, the cold winter may possibly also increase road-casualties as deer need to venture further afield to find food. However, for purpose of the winter mortality form attached it would be preferable to exclude road casualties (though road casualties can - please - still be logged as usual at http://www.deercollisions.co.uk/pages/form.html ).