The suitability of CT and 3D scanners for craniometric proposes was tested using digital calipers when determining linear measurements, and a measuring cylinder was used for the accuracy of 3D printing of deer antlers obtained by the CT and 3D scanners. The resolution of digitized objects from a 3D scanner ranged from 0.008 mm to 0.122 mm. For mandibular dimensions, a positive deviation (p < 0.01) from the primary control measurement was recorded. The average antler volume measured with the cylinder was 60.47 cm³ at the first measurement, in the case of the CT scanner 61.62 cm³ and for the 3D scanner 64.76 cm³—both technologies exhibit a positive deviation from the primary measurement. Precise sensing and measurements can be used to evaluate the quality and evolution of wildlife populations, create digital museum collections, or to examine in detail certain traits such as antler and horn development or dentition.

Sika deer is widely spread species, in Czech Republic mostly occurred in West Bohemia. This species is defined as one of the most harmful ungulate game in the forests. For the wildlife population of sika deer in the microregion Konstantinolázeňsko in West Bohemia, total weight after the hunt, weight after expelling organs, weight of the head and distal parts of the limbs, and weight of the internal organs (heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney) were determined. Correlations between the weights of specific body parts (organs) were evaluated. Ratio between the weight after expelling organs (after gralloch) and the weight after hunt (total weight) was determined. The weight after expelling organs was 74% of the total weight. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between the age and weight of individuals, and between the male age and the weight of the head. Without taking into account age differences, we show that males have a higher body weight than females, a form of sexual dimorphism.

In recent decades, there has been an increase in European wild ungulate populations, often associated with a decline in health and spread of disease. This is true for the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), the most common European cervid, with populations apparently affected by fibropapillomatosis, an increasingly common cancer. To date, however, there has been little research into this disease, thus many interactions remain unclear and descriptions of tumour composition are poorly validated. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence and concentration of toxic heavy metals in roe deer skin tumours. Our results confirmed the presence of virtually all the metals tested for, i.e., Pb, Hg, Cd, As, Cr, Mn, Al, Co, Cu, Ni, Se, Zn, and Fe, with the highest average concentrations found for Cr (0.99 mg/kg⁻¹ ± 2.23 SD), Cd (0.03 mg/kg⁻¹ ± 0.03 SD), and Hg (0.02 mg/kg⁻¹ ± 0.02 SD), exceeding FAO limits for meat from slaughtered animals. We also observed a significant positive relationship between heavy metal concentration and age, especially for Pb, As, Hg, Mn, Se, Al, Zn, and Ni. Our findings provide a strong baseline for further research on the impact of fibropapillomatosis, not only on the welfare and health status of game but also on the final consumer of venison, which in many respects is regarded as a high-quality, ecological, and renewable wild resource. While deer with this disease are not considered qualitatively or medically defective, they could represent a potential reservoir of substances toxic to humans and could affect substance levels in adjacent tissues or the animal as a whole.

What does the mandible say about wild boar: Ontogenetic development, sexual dimorphism and habitat preferences | Klára Košinová, Richard Policht, Ondřej Matějka, Vladimír Hanzal, Miloš Ježek, Tomáš Kušta, Vlastimil Hart | Agricultural Journals

In Central Europe, the fawning season of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) directly overlaps with meadow and alfalfa harvest, typically from late May to early June. During these operations, tens or more likely hundreds of thousands of fawns are mutilated by agricultural machinery. To mitigate this unethical mortality, wildlife managers often deploy odor repellents to drive roe deer individuals from high-risk fields before mowing. Therefore, we evaluated repellent efficacy in a paired design. The abundance of roe deer was quantified by drones equipped with thermal cameras before and after repellent application and then compared with untreated control meadows. Results showed high adult abundance that did not differ significantly among treatments. The highest median was paradoxically observed on meadows “after application” (8.25 ind./10 ha), followed by “not treated” meadows (7.92 ind./10 ha), and “before application” (5.72 ind./10 ha). For fawns, differences between treated and untreated plots were likewise non-significant. Their numbers increased over time after application, consistent with the peak of parturition in the second half of May. Overall, the study confirms that the tested odor repellent, when applied according to the manufacturer’s protocol, did not reduce roe deer presence on meadows. This underscores the need to consider alternative approaches, such as the use of thermal-imaging drones combined with the subsequent translocation of detected fawns to safe locations.