People are being reminded not to feed the deer in Phoenix Park.
The Office of Public Works say increasing visitors over lockdown saw more people attempting to feed and take pictures with the animals.
The OPW says large numbers of visitors and recreation users in the Phoenix Park is causing undue stress on the wild deer and the impact is made significantly worse by people trying to get close to the wild deer in order to get selfies or to feed them.
Children
As an alternative to feeding the deer, the staff of the Phoenix Park have set up a number of post boxes for children to drop off their letters to Rudolf.
These will be located at the Papal Cross Car Park, the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre Car Park and the Camogie Grounds Car Park off Chesterfield Avenue in the run up to Christmas.
Park Superintendent Paul McDonnell says: “It is very understandable that people of all ages want to get close to the wild deer. They are beautiful wild animals. Deer have been the subject of many books and films and have a special place in our hearts. However, these depictions often make them appear domesticated which they are not. It has led many of us to believe that we are being helpful when we give them carrots or bread but we are causing significant long term harm to the animals and potentially ourselves.
"The wild deer also pose a significant threat of injury, especially to young people given their size and potentially erratic behaviour.”
Dangers
Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Mr. Patrick O’Donovan TD, says: “The impact of human interaction with wildlife around the world is posing significant dangers for animal populations and humans. Ireland is not alone in this shift in human desire to engage directly with nature so it is imperative that we work to help the public understand that if we want to protect and care for the wild fallow deer herd that have lived in the park for over the past three hundred and fifty years that we adjust our behaviour”.
Christmas
As the Christmas season comes close – a time when deer have a significant role to play – the OPW are asking visitors to keep their distance, 50m or more, and not to engage in behaviour that poses risks to the deer or the visitor, especially children. This includes feeding the deer and posing for selfies.
