Caenlochan
SNH document Glen Caenloachan
The Agreement, signed in 2003, aims to prevent damage to five specific habitat types contained within Caenlochan Glen. This area has European designations for important natural heritage features including dry heath, blanket bog, flushes, tall herbs and sub-arctic willow.
Initial target dates within the Agreement relate to deer population density. The success of the Agreement in relation to deer density will be judged by whether the estates manage to reduce the deer density from 42 per square kilometre to 19 per square kilometre by 2007. There are also targets relating to habitat condition.
Provision of assistance
A herd of more than 1200 deer at Caenlochan taken in July 2005
Tracking erosion caused by high densities of deer
In 2005 DCS conducted a census of deer in the Section 7 Control Agreement area (250 sq km) and found the density had not reduced enough despite the efforts of the landowners and their staff. At the end of 2005 DCS agreed to provide additional resources to assist the estates to meet the target deer density. This was agreed over two phases – 2005/2006 and 2006/2007, with additional resources provided as follows:
The total cost of the additional resources was £147,000. A total of 4200 deer were culled by stalking teams in the first phase. Estates within the Caenlochan Section 7 Control Agreement area began culling in July, with additional resources provided in late November. The additional resources are in the same form as those listed above.
The agreed target for the second phase of the cull is 3792 deer – this is required to meet the target deer density of 19 per sq km by the summer of 2007.
Both phases are part of the Section 7 Control Agreement which was signed voluntarily by landowners in the areas surrounding Caenlochan Glen to five specific habitat types. When the first phase of the cull began deer densities in Caenlochan Glen were widely recognised as among the highest in Scotland. The high grazing and trampling pressures associated with such densities were causing adverse impacts to vegetation, slopes and agricultural land. Internationally-designated natural heritage features were, and still are, under threat. The target density is designed to prevent damage from occurring while at the same time recognising and enabling other land management interests to continue.
DCS and the landowners will work together throughout the second phase of the cull to meet the agreed targets and ensure the cull complies with the best possible standards of public safety, animal welfare and food hygiene.
Click on the relevant link below for a weekly diary of the cull
Caenlochan Operational Diary. Click now for weekly updates on deer culling operations
