Cars' deadly toll of park deer

ONE HUNDRED deer a year are being killed in car accidents in Dublin's Phoenix Park. That's two for every week of the year. Most of the accidents have happened in the long winter hours of darkness when wandering deer cross the roads and meet speeding motorists on the two and a half mile long straight stretch main road.

In earlier years there were about 40 casualties and 20 natural deaths a year. The year before last there were 50 deer killed by cars in the park but this figure was doubled in 1995.

The herd now has a population of 700 healthy adults and 100 more recently born fawns. Numbers have built up in the last four years and according to John McCullen, Phoenix Park superintendent, the herd has the capacity to double itself every five years.

The problem may be one of perception. To some people the deer are Bambi like creatures there to form a background to family snap shots on a summer's day and vanish at night. But they are a living herd of wild animals with their own rights to the park, says John McCullen.

"The Phoenix Park has been a deer park since the 17th century: it was declared a National Historic Park in 1986. Deer are an integral amenity in it. The whole park is traditionally home to the deer," he adds.

But good intentions and excellent herd husbandry may now be working against the herd. Because of the increase in numbers the herd is breaking into smaller groups and extending its traditional territory from the 200 acres it occupied between the Papal Cross, Furry Glen, and Oldtown Wood.

Traffic surveys show that more than 20,000 cars a day now pass through the park. Three quarters of them travel on the main road for which two new roundabouts are now being planned. One will be at Gough Corner, near Parkgate, and the other at Mountjoy Corner near Castleknock Gates.

In addition the herd is to be reduced to a more manageable figure of 350. A new deer management plan has also been drawn up with the assistance of the Zoology Department of UCD and is now under discussion with a clear decision on the future of the herd expected within six months.

"It's an ongoing process to take the deer herd down. We're trying to take some out in the short term. We will tranquillise them and would pass them on to somebody in deer farming: it would be the younger deer we'd be looking at."

But, Angela Tinney, of the Irish Wildlife Federation, disagrees with the deer farm solution: "I think it would be cruel. If the numbers get too large it would be better to cull them. And the way to do that is for a marksman to shoot them. As a person who really likes animals that's the way I would see it."

Ms Tinney says that there are historic figures to show that the park has supported a herd of 1,000 before. And each year grass cutting contractors cut the grass where the deer live - suggesting that there is ample food available.

However, John McCullen says: "If the herd keeps on growing how would you arrive at a conclusion that would satisfy? What is the best solution to reduce a herd that has grown out of proportions The smaller the number the tighter the management and the less casualties."

The suggestion of a specially enclosed deer area is rejected as unsuitable. "An enclosure would be fraught with problems and would need access gates. Other park users such as walkers or joggers would have to be kept out of it. The deer's natural habitat is woodland edge. Phoenix Park is ideal as far as vegetation and habitat are concerned," says Mr McCullen.

"Our brief is to manage the park from the public's point of view. There is a wild life zone, an active and a passive recreation area within the park. And we are actively looking at different methods of solving the problem. If we can get the herd numbers back down and cars observe the 30 mph speed limit there will be less casualties," he concludes.