Deer cull sought after 'explosion' in Mayo numbers
The number of deer in Mayo has 'exploded', according to local farming groups.
Mayo farming groups are calling for a cull of wild deer following “an explosion” in numbers.
The Mayo branches of Irish Farmers Association (IFA) and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA) are urging action following a huge spike in deer numbers in the county in recent years.
A meeting on the issue, organised by the IFA, took place in Bangor on Tuesday.
Mayo IFA Chair John Lynskey said deer numbers have become a county-wide problem.
“The explosion in numbers is the problem. It’s happening right around the county, not only in North Mayo but right down in South Mayo as well,” said Mr Lynskey.
Mr Lynskey said the situation “has come to a head and must be dealt with.” He said during mating season the deer can also create “huge dangers on the roads as well.” The Mayo IFA chair said famers are also fearful of the possible spread of disease.
Seamus Cosgrove, the Mayo chair of the INHFA, lives close to Bangor Erris, and said the organisation has been inundated with messages from concerned farmers.
“We are now at the stage where the deer population seems to have multiplied at an unreal rate.” “They will damage fences and eat grass which is bad enough but the dangers posed on the roads is another thing. An accident with a deer can have life-changing results,” he added.
It is believed that introduction of wild deer in North Mayo for the purpose of sport a number of years could be one of the reasons behind the surge in numbers. The cutting down of woodland for forestry and to allow for the development of wind farms has also been cited as a possible explanation for the movement of the deer population in the county.
Recommendations of a deer management strategy group are set to be implemented through a tender from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The DAFM is seeking a programme manager to implement the recommendations of the group, which previously published a report containing 15 actions to tackle ongoing issues with deer.
The appointment of a manager and the establishment of local management units in “hot spots” for deer populations were among the recommendations in the report.
The department has stated the expenditure on the services “may amount” to €3.4m over the term and any possible extensions. Farming groups believe this amount may need to be increased further.
