Park visitors are warned to steer clear of the deer
Woman suffered swollen jaw after getting too close to angry buck
VISITORS to Dublin’s Phoenix Park are being reminded to keep away from the deer there after one woman got a ‘fair whack’ in the jaw while attempting to feed one.
Amy Murphy had a ‘lucky escape’, escaping with just a swollen jaw after a deer attack over the weekend.
Visitors to the park regularly encounter the herds of deer that roam the park.
The numbers of people heading to the park have increased in recent weeks due to the latest lockdown restrictions. Ms Murphy was one such visitor, but got too close for comfort.
Speaking of her ordeal, she told Newstalk’s Lunchtime Live yesterday: ‘There were crowds of people, families with children feeding the deer… We went over, was feeding them the carrots, and one in particular would not move away.
‘I went to take the carrot out of the bag, and next of all his antlers came to the side of me and hit me straight in the jaw.
‘I didn’t feel the pain straight away because it was so cold out, but when I got home the shock hit me. I have no bruising or anything, but it was very sore after.’
A notice on the Phoenix Park website reads: ‘Deer are naturally very timid animals but in the Phoenix Park they are losing their fear of humans due to being fed by them.
‘When they see someone standing with food in their hand they now sometimes approach, and this can be dangerous,’ it continued.
‘This is not just dangerous to people, but to the deer as well. They can only digest certain foods, and if they’re given too much of a food, they can’t digest it can kill them.’
Ms Murphy said she received ‘a fair whack’ but is lucky to escape with only a sore jaw as the outcome could have been ‘much worse’.
She continued: ‘We were closer than we should have been, but I have been up there before and never experienced anything like that.
‘It might have been the amount of people around that caused it to react in the way it did,’ she added.
Ms Murphy originally took to Twitter to share her experience and urge people not to feed the deer in Phoenix Park.
She posted a picture of the deer sporting an impressive set of antlers moments before things turned nasty.
She wrote: ‘Moments before he charged at me with his antlers ready to take me out of it cause I didn’t get the carrot out of the bag quick enough. Lucky escape and lucky to only have a swollen jaw and not a broken one! Do not feed the deers in the Phoenix Park!’
Another Twitter user said: ‘Tell ye one thing, wouldn’t trust these deer in Phoenix
Park. Vicious creatures. People feeding them and everything, somebody will get a dunt soon enough.’
While there are warning signs against feeding the deer, Ms Murphy said she did not spot any of them herself.
However, she will now follow the advice.
The incident serves as a timely reminder to the public not to feed deer in the Dublin park.
In a time when social distancing is key, it is also important to keep a distance from the deer.
In December, Phoenix Park superintendent Paul McDonnell told Newstalk’s Lunchtime: ‘A 14-stone animal could do a lot of damage to you. These animals have huge antlers – especially the bucks – and they have big strong jaws and teeth as well.
‘Do come and see the deer, but keep 50 metres from them at all times. If your presence causes the deer to move away, then you’re too close to them.’
‘Keep 50 metres from them’