Wild Land News no 60, Spring 2004

Deer cull in Glen Feshie Article

The Deer Commission Scotland took the unprecedented step of carrying out an emergency cull of over 300 deer in Glen Feshie early this year. This controversial action was taken to protect areas of naturally regenerating native pinewoods under threaten from an incursion of over 300 hinds which had moved onto the lower ground. Section 10 of the Deer Act gives the Deer Commission powers to take emergency action for natural heritage reasons and at long last the Commission has decided to flex it's muscles.

A team of trained stalkers was flown in by helicopter to cull the deer over a few weeks and the helicopter then used to remove the carcases. It was reported that both Glen Feshie and Mar Lodge Estates gave their full co-operation and assistance - maybe not surprising when it seems that the cost is being borne by the public purse through the Deer Commission.

SWLG welcomes this assertive action by the Deer Commission to tackle the serious over grazing and erosion problems caused by excessive numbers of red deer and we would like to see more trained teams of stalkers deployed in this way in other parts of Scotland. However as this approach is applied more widely in future we see no reason why landowners can't pay for their own land management.

Anne Macintyre