228: Red Deer and Habitat Connectivity with Frank Zabel
From Conservation and Science by Tommy's Outdoors
May 19, 2026 · 59 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the challenges facing red deer populations in Germany, including genetic issues and habitat fragmentation, with insights from wildlife biologist Frank Zabel.
Why are red deer populations in Germany growing in number and antler size yet sitting in deep genetic trouble? What is the difference between census population size and effective population size, and why does it matter? And how can a satirical award for the worst-built wildlife crossing draw attention to the issue of habitat fragmentation? In this episode, I sit down with Frank Zabel, a wildlife biologist, campaigner, and co-host of the award-winning JAGDcast podcast. Frank also runs the nonprofit RotWildes Deutschland (Non-profit Society for Wildlife Biology & Sustainable Use) and authored the 2022 deer management plan focused on corridors and mapping. Although Frank is speaking from Germany, many of the issues he raises will feel familiar to anyone interested in deer management, habitat connectivity, and how policy decisions made decades ago continue to shape what happens on the ground today. Frank takes a broader view of red deer as an umbrella species, using them as a vehicle to talk about biodiversity in general. We discuss the historic genetic bottleneck created when red deer were extirpated in much of Germany after the 1848 revolution and how that legacy still shapes…
People in this episode
Host: Tommy
Guest: Frank Zabel
Topics covered
- red deer
- habitat connectivity
- wildlife management
- biodiversity
- genetic diversity
Keywords
- red deer
- habitat fragmentation
- genetic bottleneck
- wildlife biology
- deer management
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: RotWildes Deutschland, JAGDcast
Places: Germany
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