The number of deer roaming the hills and forests of Canton Zurich has reached a 38-year high, local hunting statistics have revealed. Over 12.000 roe deer have been estimated as living in the region, making it one of the most widespread wild animals in the canton.

Over 12.000 deer call Canton Zurich home

According to the data, 12.052 deer called Canton Zurich home in 2023, nearly 1.000 more than in 2022 and the highest number reported since 1985. The sudden rise is an outlier compared to previous years; the deer population in the region declined significantly in the late 1980s, before remaining mostly stable throughout the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s. 

Speaking to the Tages-Anzeiger, co-head of the hunting and fishing administration of Canton Zurich Reto Muggler confirmed that the deer population continued to soar in 2024, especially around the Tössstock on the border with St. Gallen. He explained that the reason for the higher numbers is a combination of better technology and policy.

Rising deer numbers a result of good conservation

First, 2023 was the first year when hunting parties used night vision goggles to try and spot the deer, rather than just using spotlights. "The new method makes it possible to detect animals that are hidden behind undergrowth," Muggler noted. Counts are also increasingly taking place in open fields, further adding to deer sightings.

Second, Muggler said that new nature conservation techniques are allowing deer in Zurich to thrive. Instead of cutting down large areas of forest, local councils now cut down individual trees before replacing them with younger trees native to the region. The result is a forest with trees of various heights, ages and types, which provide “limitless” cover and food for all types of Swiss wildlife.

All Bambie fans can stop reading here. The higher deer population also led to an increase in deer being killed. 5.600 deer were killed by hunters in 2023, while 1.057 were involved in road accidents.