With the population of deer across the UK growing, deer are now being spotted on roundabouts, in cemeteries and on golf courses, in suburban and, even, urban areas. That means there are opportunities for pest professionals in urban deer management. But you need to know what you are doing.
If you want to get into urban deer management, or you would simply like to know more about it before making up your mind, then go along to hear Mike Allison and Tony Moore from Jelen Deer Services, who will be speaking on November 5 in the Kirkmichael Suite at PestTech at 14.30.
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It is thought there are presently more than two million deer living in the UK. Red and roe deer are the only native species, though fallow deer are now normally considered part of our natural heritage, having been introduced in the 11th century and possibly before. Sika, muntjac, and Chinese water deer were all introduced within the past 150 years. These six species differ in their geographic distribution, abundance, population growth rate, behaviour and impacts. It is widely accepted that deer are more abundant and widespread now than at any time in the past 1000 years and that deer populations have increased rapidly in recent decades. With a lack of natural predators, the role of human control becomes more important. An estimated 350,000 deer are culled each year. Road accidents are the second biggest cause of deer mortality. Despite this, deer are continuing to expand in range and are increasingly impacting on the environment and people. It seems that current mortality rates are not high enough to prevent the rise in deer populations. At the PestTech seminar, Mike and Tony will be launching the UK’s first formally recognised training course in Urban Deer Management. This new course has been written and developed by Jelen Deer in conjunction with the National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA). The training programme is a fusion of the vast experience that Jelen has as the UK’s premier deer management training and service providers with the specialist knowledge and experience of the NPTA in dealing with urban deer. The new course sets the benchmark for the safe, humane control and management of deer in the urban and suburban environments. The first course is scheduled for Saturday November 27 at the NPTA HQ in Nottinghamshire and will be exclusively for NPTA members. Changes afoot at NPTA |
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They say that they will also be detailing how the association will be supporting its members through the demands of new legislation that is being forced upon us. You don’t need to be a member to attend. Amendments to the programmes
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Urban deer are increasing in numbers 
Where next for NPTA? Iain Turner, John Davison and Adam Hawley will be presenting their thoughts at 14.50