Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mitigation of bark stripping on spruce: the need for red deer population control

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Forest Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is a major production tree species for the European wood industry. However, it is highly sensitive to bark stripping (BS) by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), which causes large timber losses. Because the red deer population has increased over the last decades, a better understanding of the underlying causes driving BS is urgently needed. BS outbreaks are multifactorial: winter food shortage, local and regional deer abundance and stand properties (thermal and visual cover, and scarcity of herbaceous layers) have been found to drive BS rates. Although the influence of each of these factors is well studied, there is still no consensus on their relative contributions to BS or what mitigation strategy is best. In this study, we made use of a long-term, large-scale BS inventory (13 years over 2570 km2) to fill these gaps. We modeled winter and summer BS rates in response to the most explanatory variables, selected from a large set of environmental variables. Our results highlight the prevalence of deer abundance combined with high sensitivity of coniferous thickets and pronounced habitat selection by deer for these stands. Our findings show that the control of red deer populations is a key measure for reducing BS in Norway spruce stands.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akashi N, Terazawa K (2005) Bark stripping damage to conifer plantations in relation to the abundance of sika deer in Hokkaido, Japan. For Ecol Manag 208:77–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2004.10.073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alderweireld M, Burnay F, Pitchugin M, Lecomte H (2015) Inventaire forestier wallon : résultats 1994–2012. SPW DGO DNF Direction des Ressources forestières, Jambes

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen AM, Månsson J, Jarnemo A, Bunnefeld N (2014) The impacts of landscape structure on the winter movements and habitat selection of female red deer. Eur J Wildl Res 60:411–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0797-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ando M, Yokota H-O, Shibata E (2003) Bark stripping preference of sika deer, Cervus nippon, in terms of bark chemical contents. For Ecol Manag 177:323–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apollonio M, Andersen R, Rory P (2010) European Ungulates and their Management in the 21st Century. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold JM, Gerhardt P, Steyaert SMJG et al (2018) Diversionary feeding can reduce red deer habitat selection pressure on vulnerable forest stands, but is not a panacea for red deer damage. For Ecol Manag 407:166–173. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2017.10.050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baders E, Donis J, Snepsts G et al (2017) Pruning effect on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) growth and quality. For Stud 66:33–48. https://doi.org/10.1515/fsmu-2017-0005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertouille S, Duran V, Fichefet V et al (2015) Rapport Cerf 2014–2015. SPW/DGO/DEMNA et DNF, Gembloux

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertouille SB, de Crombrugghe SA (2002) Fertiliy of red deer in relation to area, age, body mass, and mandible length. Z Für Jagdwiss 48:87–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolyn C, Michez A, Gaucher P et al (2018) Forest mapping and species composition using supervised. Biotechnol Agron Soc Env 22(3):172–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Borkowski J, Ukalski K (2012) Bark stripping by red deer in a post-disturbance area: The importance of security cover. For Ecol Manag 263:17–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2011.09.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnevča N, Jansons Ā, Zaļuma A et al (2016) Fungi inhabiting bark stripping wounds made by large game on stems of <i>picea abies<i/> (L.) karst. in latvia. Balt For 22:2–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Caudullo G, Tinner W, de Rigo D (2016) Picea abies in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats. In: San-Miguel-Ayanz J, de Rigo D, Caudullo G, Houston Durrant T, Mauri A (eds) European Atlas of Forest Tree Species. Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, pp 114–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Čermák P, Strejček M (2007) Stem decay by Stereum sanguinolentum after red deer damage in the Českomoravská vrchovina Highlands. J For Sci 53:567–572

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Čermák P, Glogar J, Jankovskỳ L (2004) Damage by deer barking and browsing and subsequent rots in Norway spruce stands of Forest Range Mořkov, Forest District Frenštát p. R. (the Beskids Protected Landscape Area). J For Sci 50:24–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claessens H (2017) Les habitats forestiers. In: Blerot P, Heyninck C (eds) Le grand livre de la forêt. Forêt. Nature, Marche-en-Famenne, pp 131–137

  • Colson V, Garcia S, Rondeux J, Lejeune P (2010) Map and determinants of woodlands visiting in Wallonia. Urban For Urban Green 9:83–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2009.04.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conrad O, Bechtel B, Bock M, Dietrich H, Fischer E, Gerlitz L, Wehberg J, Wichmann V, Böhner J (2015) System for automated geoscientific analyses (SAGA) v. 2.1.4. Geosci. Model Dev. 8:1991–2007. https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-8-1991-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cukor J, Vacek Z, Linda R et al (2019) Effects of bark stripping on timber production and structure of norway spruce forests in relation to climatic factors. Forests 10:320. https://doi.org/10.3390/f10040320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Crombrugghe SA (1965) Beziehungen zwischen dem Umfang der Rotwildschäle in Buchenbeständen und den Niederschlägen. Z Für Jagdwiss 11:184–191

    Google Scholar 

  • de Crombrugghe SA, Louis C (1981) Affouragement hivernal et écorcement chez le cerf (Cervus elaphus L.). Bull Société R For Belg 88:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Delvaux J, Galoux A (1962) Les territoires écologiques du Sud-Est belge. Travaux hors-série. Bruxelles: ULB, Centre d’Écologie générale 2:311

  • Drimaj J, Kamler J, Mikulka O, Plhal R (2018) Bak stripping by red deer : the possible effect of recreational use of the landscape. Czech Republic, Krtiny, pp 69–72

    Google Scholar 

  • EUFORGEN (2013) Distribution map of norway spruce (Picea abies)

  • FAO. (2020) Forestry Production and Trade. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Extracted from: https://www.fao.org/faostat/. Date of Access: 14–05–2020

  • Fehér Á, Szemethy L, Katona K (2016) Selective debarking by ungulates in temperate deciduous forests: preference towards tree species and stem girth. Eur J For Res 135:1131–1143. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-016-1000-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garel M, Bonenfant C, Hamann J-L et al (2010) Are abundance indices derived from spotlight counts reliable to monitor red deer Cervus elaphus populations? Wildl Biol 16:77–84. https://doi.org/10.2981/09-022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gheysen T, Brostaux Y, Hébert J et al (2011) A regional inventory and monitoring setup to evaluate bark peeling damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in coniferous plantations in Southern Belgium. Environ Monit Assess 181:335–345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-010-1832-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gill RMA (1992) A review of damage by mammals in north temperate forests: 1. Deer Forestry 65:145–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA (2015) MODIS/Terra snow cover monthly L3 global 0.05Deg CMG, version 6. Years 2003 to 2017. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA national snow and ice data center distributed active archive center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD10CM.006. Accessed on 3 Oct 2018

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA (2016) MODIS/Aqua snow cover monthly L3 global 0.05Deg CMG, version 6. Years 2003 to 2017. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA national snow and ice data center distributed active archive center. https://doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MYD10CM.006. Accessed on 3 Oct 2018

  • Hébert J, Herman M, Jourez B (2002) Sylviculture et qualité du bois de l’épicéa en région wallonne. Forêt Wallonne, Jacques Hébert Belgique

    Google Scholar 

  • Heyninck C (2014) Pertes en volume et en valeur d’épicéas adultes touchés par des dégâts de cervidés. For Wallonne 132:24–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Honda T, Ueda H, Takiguchi K (2008) Risk factors affecting the probability of damage by sika deer in plantation forests in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Landsc Ecol Eng 4:97–102. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11355-008-0047-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarnemo A, Minderman J, Bunnefeld N et al (2014) Managing landscapes for multiple objectives: alternative forage can reduce the conflict between deer and forestry. Ecosphere 5:97. https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00106.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jerina K (2012) Roads and supplemental feeding affect home-range size of Slovenian red deer more than natural factors. J Mammal 93:1139–1148. https://doi.org/10.1644/11-MAMM-A-136.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jerina K, Dajčman M, Adamič M (2008) Red deer (Cervus elaphus) bark stripping on spruce with regard to spatial distribution of supplemental feeding places. Zb Gozdarstva Lesar 86:33–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Jönsson KI (1997) Capital and income breeding as alternative tactics of resource use in reproduction. Oikos 78:57–66. https://doi.org/10.2307/3545800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kiffner C, Rossiger E, Trisl O et al (2008) Probability of recent bark stripping damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) on Norway spruce (Picea abies) in a low mountain range in Germany-a preliminary analysis. Silva Fenn 42:125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legrain X, Demarcin P, Colinet G, Bock L (2011) Cartographie des sols en Belgique : aperçu historique et présentation des travaux actuels de valorisationet de révision de la Carte Numérique des Sols de Wallonie. Biotechnol Agron Soc Environ 15:647–656

    Google Scholar 

  • Li S, Colson V, Lejeune P, Vanwambeke SO (2016) On the distance travelled for woodland leisure via different transport modes in Wallonia, south Belgium. Urban For Urban Green 15:123–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2015.12.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licoppe A, Lievens J (2010) Utilisation de la plaine agricole par le Cerf élaphe et effets sur les résultats de comptages aux phares: cas des prairies de la Vesdre en Hertogenwald (B). Colloque national d’écologie scientifique, Montpellier. -y-cologie-du-dy-placement.pdf

  • Licoppe AM (2006) The diurnal habitat used by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) in the Haute Ardenne. Eur J Wildl Res 52:164–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-006-0027-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Licoppe AM, De Crombrugghe SA (2003) Assessment of spring habitat selection of red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) based on census data. Z Für Jagdwiss 49:1–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Ligot G, Gheysen T, Lehaire F et al (2013) Modeling recent bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in South Belgium coniferous stands. Ann For Sci 70:309–318. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-012-0253-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Månsson J, Bunnefeld N, Andrén H, Ericsson G (2012) Spatial and temporal predictions of moose winter distribution. Oecologia 170:411–419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-012-2305-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Månsson J, Jarnemo A (2013) Bark-stripping on Norway spruce by red deer in Sweden: level of damage and relation to tree characteristics. Scand J For Res 28:117–125. https://doi.org/10.1080/02827581.2012.701323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milner JM, Bonenfant C, Mysterud A et al (2006) Temporal and spatial development of red deer harvesting in Europe: biological and cultural factors: Red deer harvesting in Europe. J Appl Ecol 43:721–734. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2006.01183.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nopp-Mayr U, Reimoser F, Völk F (2011) Predisposition assessment of mountainous forests to bark peeling by red deer (Cervus elaphus l.) as a strategy in preventive forest habitat management. Wildl Biol Pract 7:66–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellerin M, Bonenfant C, Garel M et al (2014) Dynamique de la population de cerfs du domaine national de Chambord: analyse temporelle des indicateurs de changement écologique (ICE), Rapport d’expertise ONCFS. CNERAs cervidés-Sanglier faune montagne L’ONCFS LBBE-CNRS de l’université Lyon 1, Gières: 64

  • Perin J, Hébert J, Lejeune P, Claessens H (2016) De nouvelles normes sylvicoles pour les futaies pures équiennes d’épicéa et de douglas en appui à lagestion de la forêt publique en Wallonie. ForêtNature 139:58–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Picard J, Oleffe P, Boisaubert B (1991) Inlfuence of oak mast on feeding behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus L). Ann For Sci 48:547–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rademacher P (2005) Contents of nutrient elements in tree components of economical important species in relation to their residual utilisation. Holz Als Roh- Werkst 63:285–296. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00107-004-0565-z

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rivrud IM (2013) Space use, climate and selective harvesting. PhD University of Oslo, Norway

    Google Scholar 

  • Saïd S, Malengreaux C, Lievens J, Licoppe A (2015) Response of Vaccinium myrtillus height to ungulates populations

  • Saint-Andrieux C, Bonenfant C, Toïgo C et al (2009) Factors Affecting Beech Fagus sylvatica Bark Stripping by Red Deer Cervus elaphus in a Mixed Forest. Wildl Biol 15:187–196. https://doi.org/10.2981/07-100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spiecker H, Lindner M, Schuler JK (2019) Douglas-fir: an option for Europe. European Forest Institute, Joensuu

    Google Scholar 

  • Timbal J, Bonneau M, Landmann J et al (2005) European non-boreal conifer forests. Coniferous forests. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 131–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Tricot Ch, Alexandred P, Berger A, et al (1994) Climat. In: Etat de l’Environnement Wallon 1994. Ministère de la Région Wallonne, Direction générale des Ressources naturelles et de l’Environnement, pp 125–247

  • Trisl O, Wode L, Aparslan A (1999) Sechs Jahre Schälschadeninventuren im Niedersächischen Forstamt Winnefeld. Forst Holz 54:425–428

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueckermann E, Orthwein D, Ueckermann D (1988) Modification of mechanical-biological measures for the protection of the youngest spruce plantations | [Modifizierung der mechanisch-biologischen Maßnahmen zum Schälschutz der jüngsten Fichtenaltersstufe]. Z Für Jagdwiss 34:36–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Ueda H, Takatsuki S, Takahashi Y (2002) Bark stripping of hinoki cypress by sika deer in relation to snow cover and food availability on Mt Takahara, central Japan. Ecol Res 17:545–551. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1703.2002.00513.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasaitis R, Lygis V, Vasiliauskaite I, Vasiliauskas A (2012) Wound occlusion and decay in Picea abies stems. Eur J For Res 131:1211–1216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-011-0592-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasiliauskas R (2001) Damage to trees due to forestry operations and its pathological significance in temperate forests : a literature revieuw. Forestry 74:319–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vasiliauskas R, Stenlid J, Johansson M (1996) Fungi in bark peeling wounds of Picea abies in central Sweden. For Pathol 26:285–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verheyden H, Ballon P, Bernard V, Saint-Andrieux C (2006) Variations in bark-stripping by red deer Cervus elaphus across Europe. Mammal Rev 36:217–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Völk FH (1999) Bark peeling frequency in the alpine provinces of Austria : Ther importance of forest strucrure and red deer management. Z Für Jagdwiss 45:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Vospernik S (2006) Probability of bark stripping damage by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Austria. Silva Fenn 40:589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiss AD (2000) Topographic position and landforms analysis. Poster. http://www.jennessent.com/downloads/tpi-poster-tnc_18x22.pdf

  • Wood SN (2011) Fast stable restricted maximum likelihood and marginal likelihood estimation of semiparametric generalized linear models. J R Stat Soc (B) 73(1):3–36. https://www.R-project.org/

  • Wood SN (2017) Generalized additive models: an introduction with R (2nd edn). Chapman and Hall/CRC

  • Zidar J (2011) Factors affecting bark-stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) the importance of landscape structure and forage availability. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, uppsala

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the officers of the Forest and Nature Department (DNF) for carrying out this considerable field survey and the contributors of the ACCRVF program. We particularly acknowledge Thibault Gheysen, Gauthier Ligot, Hugues Claessens (ULiege) and René Dahmen (DNF) for their valuable advice. We thank Fabian Petit (Hunting and Fishing Direction) for his support in the use of BS database. We are also grateful to Hugues Lecomte and Sébastien Bauwens (IPRFW), and Alain Servais (Comptoir Forestier) for access to valuable data. We also thank the E-OBS dataset from the EU-FP6 project ENSEMBLES (https://ensembles-eu.metoffice.com), the data providers in the ECA&D project (https://www.ecad.eu), and the contributors to MODIS (terra and aqua) and OpenStreetMap Foundation.

Funding

The study was financed by the public service of Wallonia (SPW) under the funding: “Accord-cadre de recherches et vulgarisation forestières” (ACCRVF 2014–2019).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège), TERRA - Forest Is Life, Gembloux, Belgium

    Romain Candaele, Philippe Lejeune, Yves Brostaux & Nicolas Latte

  2. Département de L’Etude du Milieu Naturel Et Agricole, Service Public de Wallonie, Gembloux, Belgium

    Alain Licoppe & Céline Malengreaux

  3. Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

    Kevin Morelle

Authors
  1. Romain Candaele
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Philippe Lejeune
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Alain Licoppe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Céline Malengreaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yves Brostaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Kevin Morelle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nicolas Latte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Romain Candaele.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by Gediminas Brazaitis.

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Candaele, R., Lejeune, P., Licoppe, A. et al. Mitigation of bark stripping on spruce: the need for red deer population control. Eur J Forest Res 140, 227–240 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01326-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-020-01326-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation