Wildlife Watch

Infra-red cameras shed light on dark secrets of deer and wild boar  

Foresters are using state-of-the-art “stealth” cameras to capture infra-red images of deer and wild boar roaming Welsh Government woodlands.

The cameras, which are hidden on trees and are triggered by movement, will help Forestry Commission Wales to mount round-the-clock surveillance on the animals which, if left unmanaged, can cause significant damage to agriculture, forestry and vulnerable habitats.

The cameras will provide Forestry Commission Wales with vital information on the animals’ spread and help it to protect rare habitats from the effects of damaging browsing.

The specialised "Reconyx" cameras, which can capture still photographs of deer and wild boar as they roam public woodlands in the dead of night, can also record video clips to monitor their habits.

They have been set up all over Wales in areas where there is evidence of deer or wild boar movement, especially in Glasfynydd in the Brecon Beacons near Usk, Coed-y-Brenin near Dolgellau, the Lower Wye Valley and Radnor forest areas.

Although wild deer are not as numerous or widespread in Wales as in other parts of the UK, their numbers and spread are increasing, along with their impact.

The cameras have confirmed the extent of red deer in the Brecon Beacons as well as feral wild boar in the Lower Wye Valley, providing valuable information on which woodlands they were using and when they were using them.
They have also thrown up one or two surprises: while searching for wild boar in the Lower Wye Valley, a roe deer strolled in front of one of the cameras, though there was no firm evidence of roe in the area.