Colonisation, impacts in conservation woodland and management of Reeves’ muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) in an English county

Abstract

Populations of Reeves’ muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) have become well established in central, southern and eastern England as a result of introduction and colonisation. Although it is widely acknowledged as a species capable of damaging conservation woodland, information on its impacts has often been difficult to unravel because of the presence of other species of deer. In the county of Cambridgeshire, however, it is the most abundant and widespread species, allowing the nature and extent of its impacts to be described in woods where other deer are absent or rare. This article reviews published information and presents new analysis of data. The muntjac has significantly impacted a substantial proportion of conservation woodlands in the county, forming especially high densities in larger woods which are often designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Management by means of fencing and particularly by culling has proved effective in reducing impacts by muntjac in individual woods and in the county as a whole. Timescales of colonisation leading up to causing impacts are also discussed to provide information to assist decision making in other regions or countries where muntjac are currently colonising or may colonise in the future.