Stalkers asked to support deer ked study

Oxford research into deer keds

Stalkers are being asked to help with a University of Oxford study into deer keds, backed by the British Deer Society.

Dr Denise Wawman’s research aims to identify ked species in Britain, map their distribution, and investigate their role in disease transmission. Two hundred and three volunteers have already volunteered to collect samples from across England and Scotland, mostly from red and roe deer.

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Call for samples from under-represented areas

The British Deer Society is now appealing for samples from Wales, East Anglia and south-east England from any species, and from non-native species including muntjac, fallow, sika and water deer anywhere in the UK. Non-native keds, if present, are most likely to be found on these hosts, the society says.

Deer keds are small, blood-feeding flies. Adults measure 2-7mm long, are flattened and reddish-brown, and have wings when searching for a host but shed them once settled on a deer, giving them a tick-like appearance.

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Support from the British Deer Society

British Deer Society chief executive David McAuley told Rifle Shooter: “Stalkers and deer managers are uniquely placed to support this research. Every sample they provide helps build a clearer picture of deer ked distribution across Britain and improves our understanding of their potential role in disease transmission.”

Stalkers can email denise.wawman@biology.ox.ac.uk for guidance on sample collection.