A wild animal coming into more contact with humans

There are thought to be around two million deer in the UK.

And the animals are increasingly moving into built-up areas where there are people – suburbs with shrubs and young trees proving to be good feeding grounds.

There is little control over their spread as it is expensive for local authorities to take any kind of stand.

All deer are wild species and only become someone’s property when they are captured or killed by people entitled by law to do so – usually landowners.

Deer management arrangements in Scotland allow for them freely crossing boundaries between estates, farms, forests and landholdings.

Forestry Commission agency, Forest Research said fencing and “scarers” are widely perceived as the most preferred options, with culling “generally considered a legitimate last resort” in response to serious impacts.

Dick Playfair, secretary of the Lowland Deer Network Scotland, said: “Whilst deer carry tick, they are not the only carrier and not all ticks carry Lyme disease. It is a logical conclusion, however, that where there are deer, then there is an increasing risk of coming into contact with ticks.

“Deer management is the responsibility of the owner of the land on which deer are found. This includes local authorities and other public bodies, owners of development land, farms, woodland and estates.

“Under legislation, public bodies have a duty to manage deer on their ground sustainably.”

He said the roe deer population is increasing through the central belt, particularly because of habitat creation, green networks and tree planting.

“Roe deer like cultivated ground close to towns, development sites and abandoned industrial sites, leisure areas like parks and golf courses and woodland” Mr Playfair said. “They are increasingly coming into contact with the public.

“There are risks – such as the spread of disease, more road traffic accidents involving deer, damage to crops, trees and gardens, wildlife crime such as coursing, poaching and illegal cruelty.”