A REVIEW OF THE METHODS FOR MONITORING ROE DEER EUROPEAN POPULATIONS WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ITALY

Abstract

Throughout the last century, deer populations have shown a remarkable in- crease both in North America and Europe. As a consequence, the estimate of roe deer den- sity has become a matter of interest. We reviewed the available literature on the methods used for monitoring roe deer populations in Europe from 1950 to 2004, with the aim of de- tecting the trend of papers and distribution of census techniques by years, countries and habitat types. Particular attention was paid to the census and monitoring methods adopted in Italy and in Tuscany, which is the region where the roe deer is more carefully managed. Published papers showed an increasing trend, as did the number of methods used and their complexity. France, Italy, UK, and Spain were the countries with the richest literature and the largest variety of methods applied. Eleven census methods have been applied in woods - particularly line transects, pellet group counts, CMR and IKA - with only 6 in open coun- try, mainly pellet group counts. In Europe vantage points are more commonly used for planning culling programs, whilst in Italy, and particularly in Tuscany, the drive census and spotlight counts are mainly used. Unfortunately, in Europe, harvesting programs are still too much based on hunter knowledge and traditions. However the countries where the man- agement of roe deer hunting is of more recent tradition make an exception to this rule. In Italy and in Tuscany the methods of monitoring roe deer populations should be improved towards less expensive and more accurate methods.