Our approach must be two-fold; firstly, our solution must make sure that the Manx Shearwater

chicks are protected, and secondly we must make sure that the Red Deer stags still receive sufficient
Calcium.

Protecting Manx Shearwaters

We want to prevent deer from entering Shearwater breeding grounds, on the cliffs and around the
beaches on Rhum, without impacting the flow of other wildlife. Since deer are the largest fauna on
the island, we propose building a bar-fence which restricts Red Deer from entering the Shearwater
burrows but does not prevent flightless Shearwaters chicks or other animals from moving around
the island. Mature Red Deer stags are typically between 105 and 120cm in shoulder height. This
means that our fence would have to be about 100cm in height and surround coastal burrowing
areas. The only animal whose movement on Rhum would be restricted by this would be the single
herd of native cattle which does not make use of Shearwater burrowing sites.

Giving Calcium to Stags

Stags require 20mg of calcium per kilogram of bodyweight, and since the mean Red Deer stag
bodyweight is 200kg, they require 4g of calcium per day. About 25% of that calcium requirement is
achieved through their diet, indicating they need 3g of calcium a day from other sources (currently
this is from Manx Shearwater chick bones). We can try to increase the dietary calcium intake by
introducing calcium-high plants such as kale, but this solution will only work on the long term, when
these plants become widespread on the island (and it is a concern that this will in turn become an
invasive species). In Australia, when wild animals are lacking a mineral, biologists drop licks of a
certain mineral in their habitats. To make a deer mineral lick, a large hole is dug in the ground, and a
bag containing a granule mixture of salt and essential minerals is poured into this hole. It is then
covered with dirt, and some salt is placed on top of the mound. Deer are initially attracted to the salt
taste on top of the mound, and will then continue to dig to lick the minerals further down.