POLICE IN Co Fermanagh are investigating the discovery of dead deer amid growing concerns at the rise in poaching.
The PSNI, along with the Wild Deer Association of Ireland and the Countryside Alliance, are worried that the problem will escalate in the weeks before Christmas as demand rises for venison on the black market.
The rise in illegal shooting of animals is also being linked to escalating unemployment.
“Poachers target deer indiscriminately and have no respect for females with dependent or suckling young. While hundreds of deer are lawfully and professionally culled by trained deer stalkers each year, many more are cruelly killed by poachers looking to sell the meat on the black market,” said PSNI chief insp Graham Dodds.
He added that poaching was associated with other forms of crime in rural areas.
“As well as taking animals, poachers are often responsible for thefts from farms and rural areas, so it is not just the local wildlife that is affected by them but also rural residents,” he said.
“There are also the associated problems of threats to farmers and gamekeepers, along with damage to property and crops.”
Wild Deer Association of Ireland chairman Pat Scully said: “Poaching is a universal problem. With the unemployment people have time on their hands and may see it as a way of generating a few extra bob.”
The Countryside Alliance said poaching was reaching epidemic proportions. “In some parts of Ireland there’s been a high activity rate. There is a lot of illegal stalking,” a spokesman said.
