Deer Attacks Dog in the Royal Parks

12.05.00pm GMT Tue 5th Jun 2007

This year has produced a familiar crop of stories about dogs (and horses) being attacked by groups of deer in the royal parks. This is the season when deer have their young and they can be very oppressive towards perceived threats.

This year a Teddington resident walking a dog on a lead in Bushy Park was attacked by 15 or so deer, leaving him in shock. Some dog walkers are calling for action either to cull the deer or fence them off.

Vincent Cable, MP, who contacted the royal parks manager, Ray Brodie, about the incident said: "Bush Park deer are kept by culling at a stable 360-370 so there is nothing unusual or ecologically unbalanced about the deer population. I share the view of the royal parks that visitors, including dog walkers, have to adapt to the habits of the deer and not the other way round. The deer are wild, if generally shy, animals and it is one of the great beauties of our borough that the deer parks retain an environment which is as close to nature as possible. I am very sympathetic to the local resident who was charged and deeply shocked but I think it would b wrong to jump from one or two bad experiences to a general policy of fencing off the deer.