If wolves are ever to be reintroduced to the Highlands it may have to be done inside “very large” fenced reserves if they are to be effective at reducing deer numbers, according to a new study.

Scientists at the universities of Sussex and Kent said a fenced area would also help limit encounters with local residents and farmers, while giving the grey wolf the opportunity to achieve the high population densities needed to reduce deer numbers.

They said the current deer population was preventing tree regeneration and ecosystem restoration in parts of Scotland, with more than one third of all native woodlands in an unfavourable condition because of herbivore impacts.

Dr Christopher Sandom, a biology lecturer at the University of Sussex, added: “Reintroducing the wolf has long been suggested as part of the solution to large red deer populations but there will always be concerns about how wolves interact with people in any rewilding project like this.

“This research shows that they could actually have an extremely beneficial impact in terms of making the rewilding process more effective.”