
Deer impacts
Wild deer play a significant ecological role as Scotland’s largest undomesticated grazers, but they’re also seen as causing damage.
Wild deer play a significant ecological role as Scotland’s largest undomesticated grazers, but they’re also seen as causing damage.
Wild deer are an integral part of Scotland’s wildlife and, at an appropriate density, can help to maintain the natural heritage value of many habitats.
But deer are also seen as causing ‘damage’ to woodland, farmland and the natural heritage, through their grazing, browsing and trampling.
To assess whether deer impacts amount to damage, the range of impacts is measured and evaluated against the importance of the affected features.
Assessing damage involves a judgment – based on clear scientific evidence – that the impacts are causing an adverse change in a particular location.
NatureScot is more likely to consider damage serious when a feature of national or international importance is being changed or likely to be affected.
To decide whether impacts amount to damage or serious damage, we consider both the:
This arises in situations where either: