DEER: In the crosshairs

At first glance, Scotland’s ‘deer problem’ appears to be an ecological issue: too many hungry mouths putting pressure on already depleted woodlands and peatlands.Beneath the surface, however, debates over deer numbers, deer impacts and deer economics, reflect a much deeper ideological divide about what the Scottish uplands are for, and who gets to shape their future.The deer problem, in other words, is really a people problem.Additional info At the Edge is an independent media and communications platform exploring how people and wildlife can thrive together.Follow us on Instagram, or join me, Peter Cairns, on LinkedIn and Bluesky. And if you like what we do, please consider Buying Me A Coffee to support the production of future podcasts and other content.This episode of At The Edge is produced in partnership with Adventurous Audio and is kindly supported by Ballintean Mountain Lodge.Useful linksMeet the contributors from this episode on LinkedIn: Thomas MacDonnel, Donald Rowantree, Callum Leavey-Wilson, Sam Tedcastle, Nicola Williamson.Read Views from the Hill by Callum Leavey-WilsonLearn more about the work of The Common Ground ForumLearn more about the Affric Highlands red deer tracking projectLearn more about the Centre for Good RelationsLearn more about The Fiadh ProjectRead Peter Cairns' illustrated feature: "Monarch or Menace?"