Released Pheasants and invertebrates – a discussion of Devlin et al. (2021)

Abstract

A study by Graitson and Taymans (2022) investigating the relationship between gamebird releasing and reptile numbers in Belgium has recently been published in a French Society Bulletin. In summary the article concludes that in the area studied, reptiles were present universally at a large sample of sites where pheasants were not being released nearby, and no reptiles were found in all of a small number of sites that had nearby pheasant releases. The authors also point out that in one or two places, some reptiles such as common lizards and slow worms seemingly returned after pheasant releasing ceased.  The study has been referred to as evidence that gamebird releasing should be restricted.  We thought it would be useful to look at this paper in a bit more detail and in the context of other evidence available on the matter.