The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2024

Sika stag Isle of Wight 

The 2024 Isle of Wight Deer Survey

As in previous years it was the smaller deer species, roe and muntjac that dominated last years sightings, and it was pleasing to note that Forestry Commission England have at last publicly acknowledged not only the presence of wild deer here on the Isle of Wight but also that no control measures are necessary. 

Observations from the general public  have helped to give us a valuable insight on the species present on the island, their distribution and how they have  been able to co-exist with the rest of the  island’s  flora and fauna.We believe that we are the only local organisation keeping records of this kind.

If you do see some deer don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled animal, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

Take part in the 2024 here  Isle of Wight Deer Survey 

Which deer species has our survey has already revealed as being present on the island?

Native to the Isle of Wight

Red:-Our largest land mammal. Native to the Isle of Wight, present until the mid-nineteenth century and again from the late 20th century. Small family groups and individual animals are occasionally seen in and around suitable wooded areas. There is some evidence of recently born calves.

Red Deer: Our largest land mammal, they can be surprisingly difficult to see when couched in woodland or bracken

Roe:-A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age. They are not kept in captivity on the island and seldom so elsewhere, they are never farmed. It is not yet clear whether they are breeding on the island.

 

Roe Deer: A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age

A Naturalised Native

Fallow:-A medium large size deer, the Romans first reintroduced fallow deer to Britain following their Ice Age extinction, these deer are believed to have eventually died out. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century. They were abundant here until the end of the eighteenth century. Now observed as the occasional singleton or pair of deer.

Fallow deer: A medium large size deer. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century, it is not yet clear whether or not the Romans brought them here too.

Non-Native to the Isle of Wight

Sika:-A medium size deer sometimes confused with fallow, they originate from Japan and are closely related to red deer with which they may rarely hybridise with. They are strong swimmers and are frequently seen on Lepe beach opposite the island. Odd animals have recently been seen with increasing frequency across the island. Breeding status unknown.

A magnificent Isle of Wight Sika Stag

Muntjac:-This very secretive small deer originates from China, the Reeves muntjac has a well deserved reputation for being an invasive alien species. Dispersed across the Isle of Wight in unknown numbers they have not been known to cause any environmental issues here. It is unclear whether or not these deer are descended from the escape from Robin Hill Country Park in the mid-1970s.

Muntjac have not caused any environmental damage on the Isle of Wight

An Absentee

Chinese Water Deer:- An inhabitant of reed beds and marshes and endangered in their native China, a substantial part of the world population of this charming little deer is found in eastern England. They have yet to be seen on the Isle of Wight.

Chinese Water Deer: A small size deer they have a very distinctive appearance with their long tusks and absence of antlers.

Thank you for your interest and support, if you would like periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2023

The 2023 Isle of Wight Deer Survey

The past year has been an interesting one with the usual trickle of sightings, amongst the most interesting was a roe deer seen swimming ashore near Fort Albert which was observed from the Yarmouth Lymington ferry!

Observations such as that have helped to give us a valuable insight on the species present on the island, their distribution and how they have  been able to co-exist with the rest of the  island’s  flora and fauna.

We believe that we are the only local organisation keeping records of this kind.

If you do see some deer don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled animal, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

Take part in the 2023 here  Isle of Wight Deer Survey 

Which deer species has our survey has already revealed as being present on the island?

Native to the Isle of Wight

Red:-Our largest land mammal. Native to the Isle of Wight, present until the mid-nineteenth century and again from the late 20th century. Small family groups and individual animals are occasionally seen in and around suitable wooded areas. There is some evidence of recently born calves.

Red Deer: Our largest land mammal, they can be surprisingly difficult to see when couched in woodland or bracken

Roe:-A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age. They are not kept in captivity on the island and seldom so elsewhere, they are never farmed. It is not yet clear whether they are breeding on the island.

 

Roe Deer: A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age

A Naturalised Native

Fallow:-A medium large size deer, the Romans first reintroduced fallow deer to Britain following their Ice Age extinction, these deer are believed to have eventually died out. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century. They were abundant here until the end of the eighteenth century. Now observed as the occasional singleton or pair of deer.

Fallow deer: A medium large size deer. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century, it is not yet clear whether or not the Romans brought them here too.

Non-Native to the Isle of Wight

Sika:-A medium size deer sometimes confused with fallow, they originate from Japan and are closely related to red deer with which they may rarely hybridise with. They are strong swimmers and are frequently seen on Lepe beach opposite the island. Odd animals have recently been seen with increasing frequency across the island. Breeding status unknown.

A magnificent Isle of Wight Sika Stag

Muntjac:-This very secretive small deer originates from China, the Reeves muntjac has a well deserved reputation for being an invasive alien species. Dispersed across the Isle of Wight in unknown numbers they have not been known to cause any environmental issues here. It is unclear whether or not these deer are descended from the escape from Robin Hill Country Park in the mid-1970s.

Muntjac have not caused any environmental damage on the Isle of Wight

An Absentee

Chinese Water Deer:- An inhabitant of reed beds and marshes and endangered in their native China, a substantial part of the world population of this charming little deer is found in eastern England. They have yet to be seen on the Isle of Wight.

Chinese Water Deer: A small size deer they have a very distinctive appearance with their long tusks and absence of antlers.

Thank you for your interest and support, if you would like periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2022

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2022

 

Please take part in the 2022  Isle of Wight Deer Survey Results from earlier years have given us a valuable insight on the species present on the island and their distribution and we believe that we are the only local organisation keeping records of this kind. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled deer, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

In parallel to us the British Deer Society are running their own deer distribution survey and it would be very helpful if they too could receive a copy of your sightings.

The British Deer Society Distribution Survey

Which deer species has our survey has already revealed as being present on the island?

Native to the Isle of Wight

Red:-Our largest land mammal. Native to the Isle of Wight, present until the mid-nineteenth century and again from the late 20th century. Small family groups and individual animals are occasionally seen in and around suitable wooded areas. There is some evidence of recently born calves.

Red Deer: Our largest land mammal, they can be surprisingly difficult to see when couched in woodland or bracken

Roe:-A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age. They are not kept in captivity on the island and seldom so elsewhere, they are never farmed. It is not yet clear whether they are breeding on the island.

 

Roe Deer: A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age

A Naturalised Native

Fallow:-A medium large size deer, the Romans first reintroduced fallow deer to Britain following their Ice Age extinction, these deer are believed to have eventually died out. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century. They were abundant here until the end of the eighteenth century. Now observed as the occasional singleton or pair of deer.

Fallow deer: A medium large size deer. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century, it is not yet clear whether or not the Romans brought them here too.

Non-Native to the Isle of Wight

Sika:-A medium size deer sometimes confused with fallow, they originate from Japan and are closely related to red deer with which they may rarely hybridise with. They are strong swimmers and are frequently seen on Lepe beach opposite the island. Odd animals have recently been seen with increasing frequency across the island. Breeding status unknown.

A magnificent Isle of Wight Sika Stag

Muntjac:-This very secretive small deer originates from China, the Reeves muntjac has a well deserved reputation for being an invasive alien species. Dispersed across the Isle of Wight in unknown numbers they have not been known to cause any environmental issues here. It is unclear whether or not these deer are descended from the escape from Robin Hill Country Park in the mid-1970s.

Muntjac have not caused any environmental damage on the Isle of Wight

An Absentee

Chinese Water Deer:- An inhabitant of reed beds and marshes and endangered in their native China, a substantial part of the world population of this charming little deer is found in eastern England. They have yet to be seen on the Isle of Wight.

Chinese Water Deer: A small size deer they have a very distinctive appearance with their long tusks and absence of antlers.

Thank you for your interest and support, if you would like periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2021

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2021

  Wild deer are part of the Isle of Wight’s natural heritage, historically they were important as our special woodlands developed their rich diversity in their presence. Areas such as Parkhurst and Borthwood were preserved for hunting by the nobility, without which these woods may have been cleared for agriculture. Isle of Wight Deer Conservation wishes to extend their knowledge of deer in the wild on the island in the modern era, so that we may record this for the benefit of present day and future generations of islanders. Hitherto little appears to have been done to achieve this. Enquiries at the Local Records Centre and elsewhere had met with responses along the lines of none were recorded . What we were already aware of was that deer have been re-emerging in the wild on the island since the 1970s with evidence of both of the native species, red and roe, being reported and also the introduced species, fallow and muntjac .

Sika Isle of Wight June 2020

To get some idea of the recent origins of our wild deer it helps to consider the island not in isolation but as an outlying area to the New Forest. The British Deer Society has confirmed that deer cross and re-cross the Solent in both directions, with the possible exception of muntjac and Chinese water deer . Unlike the island the New Forest has abundant deer populations so it comes as no surprise to learn that some of these deer will take the few minutes necessary to swim across under favourable conditions with the possibility of their numbers being augmented by those already breeding here and escapes from captivity although it must be noted that of the five species currently extant on the island only two, red and fallow are held captive here.

Which deer species has the survey has already revealed as being present on the island?

Native to the Isle of Wight

Red:-Our largest land mammal. Native to the Isle of Wight, present until the mid-nineteenth century and again from the late 20th century. Small family groups and individual animals are occasionally seen in and around suitable wooded areas. There is some evidence of recently born calves.

Red Deer: Our largest land mammal, they can be surprisingly difficult to see when couched in woodland or bracken

Roe:-A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age. They are not kept in captivity on the island and seldom so elsewhere, they are never farmed. It is not yet clear whether they are breeding on the island.

 

Roe Deer: A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age

A Naturalised Native

Fallow:-A medium large size deer, the Romans first reintroduced fallow deer to Britain following their Ice Age extinction, these deer are believed to have eventually died out. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century. They were abundant here until the end of the eighteenth century. Now observed as the occasional singleton or pair of deer.

Fallow deer: A medium large size deer. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century, it is not yet clear whether or not the Romans brought them here too.

Non-Native to the Isle of Wight

Sika:-A medium size deer sometimes confused with fallow, they originate from Japan and are closely related to red deer with which they may rarely hybridise with. They are strong swimmers and are frequently seen on Lepe beach opposite the island. Odd animals have recently been seen with increasing frequency across the island. Breeding status unknown.

A magnificent Isle of Wight Sika Stag

Muntjac:-This very secretive small deer originates from China, the Reeves muntjac has a well deserved reputation for being an invasive alien species. Dispersed across the Isle of Wight in unknown numbers they have not been known to cause any environmental issues here. It is unclear whether or not these deer are descended from the escape from Robin Hill Country Park in the mid-1970s.

Muntjac have not caused any environmental damage on the Isle of Wight

Chinese Water Deer:- An inhabitant of reed beds and marshes and endangered in their native China, a substantial part of the world population of this charming little deer is found in eastern England. They have yet to be seen on the Isle of Wight.

Chinese Water Deer: A small size deer they have a very distinctive appearance with their long tusks and absence of antlers.

If you have seen some wild deer on the island it would greatly assist us if you could take part in the Isle of Wight Deer Survey don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled deer, viewed by an equally surprised observer! Thank you for your interest and support, if you would like periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2020

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2020

Wild deer are part of the Isle of Wight’s rich natural heritage, historically they were important as our special woodlands developed their rich diversity in their presence. Areas such as Parkhurst and Borthwood were preserved for hunting by the nobility, without which these woods may have been cleared for agriculture. Isle of Wight Deer Conservation wishes to extend their knowledge of deer in the wild on the island in the modern era, so that we may record this for the benefit of present day and future generations of islanders.

Deer that are native to the Isle of Wight:-

Red Deer: Our largest land mammal, they can be particularly difficult to see when couched in woodland or bracken

 

Roe Deer: A medium sized deer of ancient lineage that re-established in Britain soon after the end of the last Ice Age

A naturalised non-native deer:-

Fallow deer: A medium large size deer, it was the Romans who first reintroduced Fallow deer to Britain following their Ice Age extinction, these deer are believed to have eventually died out. The Normans reintroduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century

Non-Native deer

Sika deer:- A medium large size deer sometimes confused with Fallow, they originate from Japan and are closely related to Red deer which they may hybridise with. They are strong swimmers and are frequently seen on Lepe beach opposite the island

 

Chinese Water Deer: A small size deer they have a very distinctive appearance with their long tusks and absence of antlers. They have yet to be seen on the Isle of Wight

 

Muntjac Deer: This very secretive small deer originates from China, the Reeves Muntjac has a well deserved reputation for being an invasive alien species. Present on the Isle of Wight in unknown numbers they have not been known to cause any environmental issues here.

 

If you have seen some wild deer on the island it would greatly assist us if you could take part in the Isle of Wight Deer Survey don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled deer, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

Thank you for your interest and support, if you would like periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com

 

 

The Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan

Red deer hind & calf – Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan

In 2017 the Forestry Commission launched a consultation on their Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan, this is how we responded:-

The Isle of Wight’s rich woodlands evolved in presence of wild deer^1,2,3,4, , in common with much of southern England these deer populations declined during the 18^th century and had disappeared by the mid 19^thcentury, only to re-emerge again in the late 20^th century.  On the mainland these re-emerging deer have descended from a mixture of escapees from captivity, re-introductions and the natural spread of wild deer, the same appears to be true of the island’s deer. There is no evidence to support claims that there are no naturally occurring deer on the island¹⁶.

Of the five deer species ¹⁷that have been seen on the island in recent years both the Red and Roe have the distinction of being amongst the island’s scarcest native woodland mammals.

Scientific research including that done by the Forestry Commission indicates that both having too many and too few deer is detrimental to biodiversity ^5,6,7,8.  There is circumstantial evidence that despite the richness of our woodlands we may be slowly losing both flora and fauna species* as a result of the relative scarcity of deer.  To give but one example some of the woodland birds that are quite commonly found in the New Forest have been described as “curiously absent” from the Isle of Wight⁹.  Scientific research illustrates the beneficial interactions of deer activity with these birds^10,11 .

Tawny Owls are scarce on the Isle of Wight, possibly due to insufficient deer grazing activity

The Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan sets itself the objective:-

“To maintain and enhance the favourable conservation status of a naturally important wildlife site”.*

Heathland, Acid Grassland and Wood Pasture are mentioned as priority habitats and the Design Plan acknowledges that many of these were once grazed by deer. These grazing activities helped to maintain floral diversity and aid seed dispersal. 

IW Deer Conservation believes that wild deer have a role to play in maintaining these priority habitats in the future as they have done in the past.

Both the IW Forest Design Plan and South England Forest Deer Management Strategy make various claims pertaining to the absence of deer being of benefit to our unique flora and fauna*, however scientific research indicates that this is not true, and that woodland biodiversity decreases when deer are not present. Both historical and archaeological records indicate that wild deer and the rest of the island’s unique flora and fauna flourished together over thousands of years in our rich woodlands. Claims that any deer present on the island have posed a threat to this unique ecology appear to be without foundation.

Science tells us that biodiversity benefits from at least some deer activity – Source: Forestry Commission FB 18

IW Deer Conservation believes that the biological diversity of the islands woodlands would be best served by the sustainable management of our local deer with the presence of native deer species being prioritised.

The Forestry Commission claim that:-

“Our overall objective for deer management, in line with Government’s aim in England is to maintain a well-managed and healthy deer population, which presents no threat to long term environmental, social or economic sustainability, and to limit as far as is practical, the further spread of recently introduced species”.

Whilst Defra have set out the terms of reference for the management of deer on the public estate¹² and have stated that:-

“The Defra  family will continue to manage deer populations on public land at sustainable levels, ensuring best practice at all times”

They have further stated that:-

“Defra policy on wild deer management applies equally across England, and the Isle of Wight is no exception¹⁸.”

The Deer Initiative publishes these best practice guides which together with their Vision Statement and Accord set out these minimum acceptable standards for deer management.

Best Practice applies at all times to publicly owned land on the Isle of Wight (source: Defra)

 

The Isle of Wight is a geographically self-contained area which restricts cross-Solent deer migration, the Forestry Commission claim to have successfully controlled both native and naturalised deer species on the island in the 20^th century and to have received widespread support from landowners for doing so. This together with reference to the past history of wild deer on the island indicates that landscape scale deer management for these species is entirely feasible here.

However, it would appear that persecution of these native deer in an ill-conceived attempt  to establish the Isle of Wight as a long term experimental deer free zone^13,14,15 may have merely widened the ecological niche for the island’s Muntjac deer to expand into.

Neither the Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan nor the South England Forest Deer Management Strategy (17.Isle of Wight) are compliant with Defra policy, the Forestry Commission’s own policy for the rest of southern England, and the principles set out in the Deer Initiative’s Best Practice, Accord and Vision statements.

This is unacceptable, both the IW Forest Design Plan and South England Deer Management strategy (17.Isle of Wight) clearly need to be urgently revised.

We believe that it will be beneficial to both the island’s deer and woodland ecology if a careful balance is struck between the deer and their environment with neither too few nor too many being present and that all those involved in this deer management should fully acquaint themselves and comply with both the Defra policies and the Accord and Vision Statement of the Deer Initiative

A bona fide deer management plan is necessary for the island and we would like to invite the Forestry Commission to participate in further discussions regarding the drafting of such a plan. 

If you have any comments to make about this submission or would like further information on the issues raised please contact Isle of Wight Deer Conservation by email deerwight@gmail.com

Both Red and Roe deer are native to the Isle of Wight

*Since writing our response in 2017 we have discovered that no less than three woodland butterfly species have recently become extinct on the island, these include the Duke of Burgundy, Pearl-Bordered and Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillaries. Typically these butterflies thrive in deer grazed wood pasture habitats.

Citations:-

1 A new, correct, and much-improved history of the Isle of Wight. John Albin 1795

2 A History of the Isle of Wight. Richard Worsley 1781

3 Faunal remains from radiocarbon-dated soils within landslip debris from the Undercliff, Isle of Wight – R.C.Preece

4 The Oglander memoirs. Sir John Oglander (Brannon 1888)

5 Deer Initiative Vision Statement, Accord & Best Practice Guides

6 The Impact of Deer on Woodland Biodiversity FCIN 36, Gill

7 Exclusion of large herbivores: Long-term changes within the plant community. Trinity College, Dublin

8 Forests and Biodiversity UK forestry Standard Guidelines. F.C.

9 Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile, NA 76

10 Impact of deer on woodland invertebrates. AJA Stewart

11 Woodland deer and small mammal ecology. J.R.Flowerdew & S.A.Ellwood

12 The sustainable management of wild deer populations in England. DEFRA 2011

13 Email Andy Page via BDS

14 Parkhurst FDP 2005

15 Correspondence FC Bristol et al

16 FOI requests

17 IW Deer Conservation Survey & related emails

18 Email Defra

 

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2019

 

Native red deer on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey 2019

Wild deer are part of the Isle of Wight’s rich natural heritage, historically they are important as our special woodlands evolved in their presence. Areas such as Parkhurst and Borthwood were preserved for hunting by the nobility, without which these woods may have been cleared for agriculture. Isle of Wight Deer Conservation wishes to extend their knowledge of deer in the wild on the island in the modern era, so that we may record this for the benefit of present day and future generations of islanders.

Roe deer are native to the Isle of Wight

If you have seen some wild deer on the island it would greatly assist us if you could take our short deer survey, don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled deer, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

The Normans introduced fallow deer to the island in the 11th century

For periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com, if you have seen some deer on the island please take part in the Isle of Wight Deer Survey

Thank you for your interest and support

External links that you may find interesting:-

The British Deer Society – BDS

Photos of deer on the island – Isle of Wight Deer Album

 

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey – Isle of Wight Deer Conservation

Red Deer in Woodland on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey

Wild deer are part of the Isle of Wight’s rich natural heritage, historically they are important as our special woodlands evolved in their presence. Areas such as Parkhurst and Borthwood were preserved for hunting by the nobility, without which these woods may have been cleared for agriculture. Isle of Wight Deer Conservation wishes to extend their knowledge of deer in the wild on the island in the modern era, so that we may record this for the benefit of present day and future generations of islanders.

The Isle of Wight Deer Survey-please use the link below to participate, thank you

If you have seen some wild deer on the island it would greatly assist us if you could take our short deer survey, don’t worry if you don’t know all the details, all too often all that will have been seen is a fleeting glimpse of a startled deer, viewed by an equally surprised observer!

Sika Deer have only recently been seen on the Isle of Wight

For periodic updates on the island’s deer please email deerwight@gmail.com, if you have seen some deer on the island please take part in the Isle of Wight Deer Survey

Thank you for your interest and support

External links that you may find interesting:-

The British Deer Society – BDS

Photos of deer on the island – Isle of Wight Deer Album