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Bark Stripping Risk Rose Sharply at Higher Red Deer Density Indices in Western Norway

Red deer in Austevoll, Norway
Conservation · Human–wildlife conflict

A large survey along Norway’s west coast found bark stripping by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in 74% of the examined Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands. Researchers inspected 14,990 trees in 450 stands spanning about 400 km; 16.8% of all sampled trees showed bark-stripping damage, while 11.1% of stands had damage on more than half of their trees.

Damage rose sharply as the density index approached two harvested deer per km²

The strongest factor associated with damage was a broad-scale red deer density index calculated from the number of deer harvested per square kilometre of counting area in each municipality. This is a hunting-based index rather than a direct count of deer. Bark-stripping probability changed little at lower values, but began increasing around 1.5 harvested deer per km² and rose sharply as the index approached about two harvested deer per km².

Several local conditions also affected the probability of damage. Bark stripping was more likely in spruce stands close to agricultural meadows, farther from roads and in more rugged terrain. Within stands, risk was higher on shorter trees, where there were fewer branches and where the gaps between branch whorls were larger; these patterns make the trunk easier to reach and the bark of younger trees more suitable as forage. Snow depth, site productivity and stand density also affected risk. The authors interpret the combined pattern as evidence that deer distribution, access to alternative forage and the accessibility and palatability of bark all contribute to where damage occurs.

The researchers identify population control as the management measure most likely to reduce bark stripping where deer densities are high. They also note a practical conflict: landowners may value high deer numbers for hunting income and recreation while simultaneously losing timber value through bark damage. Forestry planning that considers local deer habitat use and access to alternative forage may therefore complement population management.

Sources and image credit

  1. Unsgård, E., Mysterud, A., Rivrud, I. M., Hylen, G., Øpstad, S., & Meisingset, E. L. (2026). Risk factors for bark stripping damage on Norway spruce by red deer. Wildlife Biology, 2026, e01613. https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01613Primary peer-reviewed open-access article first published 14 February 2026. The study examined 14,990 Norway spruce trees in 450 stands along about 400 km of western Norway and found the strongest increase in bark-stripping probability at high values of the hunting-based red deer density index.

Image: Marius Vassnes / Wikimedia Commons — red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Austevoll, Norway, photographed 11 May 2021. Representative Norwegian species image, not an animal from the study. · CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ · Source

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