Even Unsgård

• Unsgård, Even; Mysterud, Atle; Rivrud, Inger Maren; Hylen, Gro; Øpstad, Samson & Meisingset, Erling (2026). Risk factors for bark stripping damage on Norway spruce by red deer. Wildlife Biology. ISSN 0909-6396. 2026(3). doi: 10.1002/wlb3.01613. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Norway spruce Picea abies is an economically important tree species in Europe, actively managed for forestry. Among the most negative biotic factors for growth and hence forest production is damage caused by wildlife, such as damage through bark stripping by red deer Cervus elaphus. We quantified bark stripping damage on Norway spruce trees in across 450 stands (aged 20–72 years) spanning a 400 km latitudinal range along Norway's west coast and analysed the underlying mechanisms driving increased probability of bark stripping by red deer. A total of 74% of tree stands had bark stripping damage. The mean percentage of damaged trees was 16.0%, but 50 stands (11.1% of the stands) had more than 50.0% damaged trees. The most important factor determining probability for bark stripping was broad-scale red deer density, where the probability increased markedly when density reached approximately two harvested red deer per km2. In addition, proximity to agricultural farmland, distance from roads, site productivity, distance between twig whorls and terrain ruggedness index increased the probability of bark stripping. Our study on bark stripping on Norway spruce highlights the importance of red deer population control, but also the importance of evaluating environmental factors as well as site factors and tree characteristics in forestry planning to mitigate damage from red deer.

• Unsgård, Even; Meisingset, Erling L.; Rivrud, Inger Maren; Fossland, Gunn Randi; Thorvaldsen, Pål & Veiberg, Vebjørn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2024). An experimental assessment of biomass loss due to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on agricultural grass meadows in Norway. European Journal of Wildlife Research. ISSN 1612-4642. 71(1). doi: 10.1007/s10344-024-01880-6. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  In Europe, over a third of the agricultural area is grass meadows used for livestock grazing and fodder production. Grass meadows provide a food source for wild ungulates causing human-wildlife conflicts due to forage removal. Few experimental studies have quantified biomass loss with enough replicates to determine how surrounding environments influences level of biomass removal. Using an exclosure experiment on 57 grassland meadows over five years at the northwest coast of Norway covering 10 650 km2, we quantified biomass removal by red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and how environmental factors impacted biomass loss (Study 1). Furthermore, we examined development of biomass loss and crude protein concentration in five fields throughout the growing season (Study 2). The average predicted biomass loss to red deer grazing was 16% for the first harvest, and 7.3% for the second harvest (Study 1). Biomass loss increased with red deer density from 0% at the lowest density (0.6 red deer harvested/km2) to 31% at the highest density (4 red deer harvested/km2). Biomass loss increased from 12% to 32.8% as terrain ruggedness index (TRI) rose from 2.1 to 7.1. Absolute biomass loss increased towards time of grass harvest (Study 2). Crude protein concentration was higher in unfenced plots during the period before first harvest, but not between first and second harvest (Study 2). The quantification of biomass removal at a large spatial scale over several years in this study provides a better understanding of factors causing variation in losses.

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• Unsgård, Even (2025). Red deer damage and disease risk in sympatric cervids. Full text in Research Archive
• Unsgård, Even (2025). Red deer damages on economically important forest trees and agricultural meadows. Full text in Research Archive
• Unsgård, Even (2025). Skademareitt? Beiteskade på innmark og barkgnag på gran. Full text in Research Archive
• Unsgård, Even (2025). Skademareritt: Hjorten sin påvirkning på innmark og utmark. Full text in Research Archive
• Unsgård, Even; Meisingset, Erling L. & Mysterud, Atle (2025). Store variasjoner i avlingstapet til hjort. NIBIO POP. ISSN 2464-1170. 11(55). Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Hjortebestanden i Norge har økt kraftig de siste ti årene, og den har ekspandert til nye områder. For hjorten er innmark et viktig habitat på grunn av mye og næringsrikt fôr. I områder med stor bestand kan beitetrykket på innmark være høyt. Dette forårsaker avlingstap, men det har vært usikkerhet knyttet til omfanget på større skala og hva som påvirker hvor omfanget er størst.

• Unsgård, Even; Meisingset, Erling L.; Rivrud, Inger Maren; Fossland, Gunn Randi; Thorvaldsen, Pål & Veiberg, Vebjørn [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2025). Correction to: An experimental assessment of biomass loss due to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) grazing on agricultural grass meadows in Norway. European Journal of Wildlife Research. ISSN 1612-4642. 71(1). doi: 10.1007/s10344-024-01887-z. Full text in Research Archive
• Unsgård, Even (2025). #AgriDeer: Hjortens bruk av innmark og utmark. Full text in Research Archive
• Meisingset, Erling L.; Brekkum, Øystein & Unsgård, Even (2026). Vesthjort - Et merkeprosjekt for hjort på Søre Sunnmøre og i Nordfjord - Sluttrapport med oppsummering av resultater. NIBIO. ISSN 9788217040200. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Denne rapporten oppsummerer Vesthjort prosjektet (2019-2025), hvor målet har vært å utvikle kunnskap om hjortens arealbruk på Søre Sunnmøre i Møre og Romsdal og Nordfjord i Vestland til grunnlag for hjorteforvaltningen i regionen. Rapporten oppsummerer resultatene fra prosjektet og diskuterer disse i lys av hjorteforvaltningen.

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