Sylva Deer and Veterinary Services

Sylva Deer and Veterinary Services Dedicated to professional deer management. Protecting crops, preserving wildlife, and providing exceptional stalking experiences. UK & Spain.

Stalking roe deer in the pines. With the ground this dry, moving quietly is half the challenge.
07/06/2026

Stalking roe deer in the pines. With the ground this dry, moving quietly is half the challenge.

A few memorable days in the field.
31/05/2026

A few memorable days in the field.

🐐🏔️ Came across these Spanish ibex while out in the mountains — still some snow left up there.Always a privilege to watc...
15/04/2026

🐐🏔️ Came across these Spanish ibex while out in the mountains — still some snow left up there.
Always a privilege to watch them.

💾 - Save the post for your next parasite find -Intestinal parasites in wild boar 🗒️ quick field guideWild boar commonly ...
06/04/2026

💾 - Save the post for your next parasite find -

Intestinal parasites in wild boar 🗒️ quick field guide

Wild boar commonly harbour intestinal parasites. Most infections are subclinical, but recognising key findings in the field is highly valuable.

Intestinal parasites, broadly divided into:

👉 HELMINTHS (worms)

🪱 Nematodes (roundworms)

- Ascaris suum
Large, visible worms
Free in small intestine

- Oesophagostomum spp.
Small nodules
In gut wall

- Trichuris suis
Thin, whip-like
Embedded in mucosa

🧩 Cestdodes (tapeworms)

Seen mainly as larval cysts. Located in abdominal cavity / tissues. Adult stage develops in canids (foxes, dogs)

🧷 Acanthocephalans

Rare
Hooked head
Attached to intestinal wall

👉 PROTOZOA (microscopic)

🦠 Eimeria
Microscopic
Not visible in field

📍 FIELD TAKEAWAY

- Most findings are common and expected

- Parasites act as indicators of environmental contamination

- Higher prevalence is linked to:
- High population density
- Repeated use of feeding areas

- Most intestinal parasites in wild boar are unlikely to infect people directly

Understanding what you see supports evidence-based wildlife management

Morning out with guests.Good to be on the ground early.
26/03/2026

Morning out with guests.
Good to be on the ground early.

Autumn days in the British countryside 🦌🍂🍁Good stalks, good company, and the best wild venison nature can offer. ...
07/12/2025

Autumn days in the British countryside 🦌🍂🍁
Good stalks, good company, and the best wild venison nature can offer.

🦠🐗 African Swine Fever (ASF). First cases in wild boar in Spain since 1994. What should you know?African Swine Fever (AS...
29/11/2025

🦠🐗 African Swine Fever (ASF). First cases in wild boar in Spain since 1994. What should you know?

African Swine Fever (ASF) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting wild boar and domestic pigs, with mortality rates often approaching 100% in infected animals.

As we explained during the BDVA meeting in June this year, ASF does not infect humans, but it can have major impacts on wildlife, farming, and the economy (especially for Spain’s pig industry). It is important to emphasise that ASF does not affect people, whether through contact with animals or through the consumption of products derived from them.

Yesterday (28th November 2025), Spanish authorities announced the first two confirmed cases of ASF in wild boar since 1994. Both carcasses were found within 1 km of each other. At the time of writing, four additional cases have been detected, bringing the total to six.

Authorities immediately activated control measures, including:

- Delimitation of the affected zone.
- Active search efforts.
- Controlled removal and disposal of wild boar carcasses.
- Hunting ban to prevent the movement of wild boar into unaffected areas.
- Reinforced biosecurity and surveillance on pig farms.

Within the European Union, ASF has been endemic in several countries since its introduction into Poland and the Baltic states from Russia in 2014. Until yesterday, the ASF situation in Europe could be summarised by the map shown above (image from Sauter-Louis et al., 2021).

Hunters have an essential role in ASF prevention and control by:

-> Passive surveillance: reporting any dead wild boar or suspected ASF cases to authorities.

-> Active collaboration: assisting in the rapid removal and disposal of carcasses. This is critical because carcasses are the main environmental reservoir of the virus.

-> Biosecurity compliance: cleaning equipment and avoiding the movement of meat or trophies from risk areas.

-> Population management: helping reduce population density to lower transmission risk.

See the first comment for the signs and symptoms, as well as the bibliography

🎥 This time, we pointed the camera the other way.Instead of focusing on the animals, we captured what surrounds them: do...
16/10/2025

🎥 This time, we pointed the camera the other way.

Instead of focusing on the animals, we captured what surrounds them: dozens of vehicles, people, and lenses all chasing the same moment.

What do you think? Can massive tourism and true conservation really coexist? Tell us your opinion below ⬇️

This time in Kenya. We came just to observe and photograph, keeping an open mind to other ways of wildlife conservation,...
14/10/2025

This time in Kenya. We came just to observe and photograph, keeping an open mind to other ways of wildlife conservation, as hunting is forbidden in this country. The wildlife is breathtaking, and seeing it up close is unforgettable. But it’s also impossible to ignore how many vehicles and people surround every animal at every step. Surely, such massive tourism must have its consequences. We’ll talk more about this in the next post!

🐿️ THE RED SQUIRREL 🐿️The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a native species in the UK, but its population has declined...
08/05/2025

🐿️ THE RED SQUIRREL 🐿️

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a native species in the UK, but its population has declined significantly over the past century, mainly due to the introduction of the non-native grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). Grey squirrels outcompete reds for food and habitat, and also carry the squirrelpox virus, which is deadly to red squirrels but not to greys.

Today, red squirrels are largely confined to parts of Scotland, Northern England (like Cumbria and Northumberland), Northern Ireland, and some isolated areas such as the Isle of Wight and Anglesey. They are considered a protected species, and there are many conservation efforts focused on maintaining and expanding their populations in red-only zones, often linked with grey squirrel control.

We’ve recently been in Cumbria installing cameras and feeders as part of a monitoring effort to gather information on local red squirrel populations. It’s a small but valuable step in helping protect this iconic native species.

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Oxford

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+447762551706

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