‘DISTRESSED DEER SHOT DEAD TO PROTECT PUPILS AT SCHOOL’
Animal was found roaming on grounds
SCHOOL staff called in the RSPCA and police to ‘protect pupils from harm’ after a ‘distressed’ deer got into the grounds of a school.
The wild animal was spotted roaming around St Margaret’s CE Junior School, off Church Lane, Wolstanton, earlier this month.
After discussing what to do next with the RSPCA and the police, school staff then brought in an expert from the Trentham Estate to ‘humanely put down’ the animal.
The news has been met with anger from some residents who believe the deer should have been tranquilised and relocated instead.
Explaining the decision, St Margaret’s headteacher David Hugill said: “A few weeks ago, we found ourselves in an impossible position where we had a distressed wild animal on school grounds.
“After seeking advice from local experts and the RSPCA, and with the safety of our children in our minds at all times, unfortunately we had to accept that the only decision was to have the deer humanely put down. This was done outside of school hours by a wildlife expert.
“This isn’t the outcome we would have wanted, however, after listening to the advice we were given and exploring all other possible options, this was the only course of action we could take in the best interests of the animal and of our children.”
It is unclear how the deer may have ended up in Wolstanton or where it came from.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA said: “We received a report that there was a deer in the grounds of a school in Wolstanton on June 8. As the deer was healthy, we advised the school to ensure the gates were open so the deer could leave and asked the school to continue to monitor the situation. This is always our advice when it comes to healthy trapped deer as we do not have the resources to catch them and it can cause unnecessary and dangerous stress to the wild animal.
“Our officer spoke to the school the following day but was informed that sadly the deer was put to sleep by a third party due to the school’s concerns for the safety of the children.”
One man said: “The police were also in attendance. It’s very sad. Surely a better more humane solution could have been found. I am not laying the blame at the feet of St Margaret’s, they must have found themselves in an almost impossible position.”
Others have also questioned whether it was necessary to shoot the deer. One said: “Why not just dart to sedate?”
Another added: “Surely they could have been tranquilised and returned to the wild.”
However, others had more sympathy with the school.
One said: “Deer hunters are employed to control the population in the wild, and professionals have a yearly quota which they can legally kill. So since these deer were found in a location where they shouldn’t be, possibly causing serious danger it would be logical that they would be killed rather than sedated and moved to Trentham.”