“A big problem”: Visitors urged to leave deer in Phoenix Park alone

"There are large crowds"

People visiting the Phoenix Park have been urged to leave the deer alone, especially coming up to Christmas. The public has been warned that the animals are not a form of entertainment. They should be left alone and admired from a distance. Head Ranger and Deer Keeper Terry Moore urged the public to respect the animals. He told Newstalk, “There are large crowds coming in specifically to get out the car and go over and approach the deer." “This week especially, for years, has always been a big problem," he explained. According to Mr. Moore, people get too close to the dear and others even try to take selfies with them. Visitors have been told, time and time again, that they should stay 50m away from the deer. However, many continue to break that rule and get too close to the animals. Others even feed them, which can actually be incredibly dangerous, Mr. Moore warned. “[I’ve seen them given] mainly carrots but I’ve also seen crisps, chocolate, and bread,” he revealed. “Sometimes they leave the plastic bags on the ground and the deer will eat the plastic. I’ve even seen on social media a deer eating a face mask," he shared. The Phoenix Park is home to 500 deer, but people fail to respect the animals. The animals deserve to be treated with care and respect by the public. They are wild animals and the park is their home. They're not some Christmas gimmick you should be taking selfies with for Instagram.