GPS collars track red deer for conservation

A research project using GPS collars has been launched to track red deer movement and behaviour in the Scottish Highlands, aiming to help land managers make informed decisions about deer health, population levels, and habitat conservation.

The project seeks to strengthen understanding of how red deer move through and use the landscape.

An expert from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute has worked with charity Affric Highlands and colleagues from Durham University to design protocols to safely catch, collar and release red deer stags.

The project team will work with landowners and deer managers to support collaboration across Highland estates for informed, sustainable deer management. 

Habitat management 

Increased red deer populations pose a barrier to the large-scale natural regeneration of native woodlands, and have led to challenges in balancing ecological health, biodiversity, and land management objectives, experts say.

Currently, limited data is available to help inform and support approaches to practical management and achieve biodiversity goals set by the Scottish Government, which aim to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. 

Understanding the species’ movements may support conservation experts in efforts to manage deer densities and restore habitats such as woodlands and peatlands.

Tracking technology

This project will deploy GPS collars on 22 stags across the West Highlands. A further six GPS ear tags have been fitted on deer calves to provide data on doe movements, with a plan to tag more calves next spring.

The collars allow researchers to analyse how red deer move and interact with the environment, including their habitat preferences during rutting, calving and foraging.

Data will be stored on the collars and sent via satellite to an app which allows deer stalkers to view deer movements and manually add their own observations.

Experts are also set to conduct habitat surveys in areas where GPS data reveals that deer have been foraging or sheltering, to analyse their environmental impacts.

The study is supported by the Association of Deer Management Groups and Rewilding Europe.

Related links

Affric Highlands – UK’s largest rewilding landscape

Image credit: Siân Addison, Affric Highlands