- A famous deer was culled after it became dependent on tourists’ food
They are an iconic feature of the Highlands and a favorite with tourists.
But now tourists are being blamed for an invasion of deer taking up residence in a Scottish village by encouraging and treating the animals ‘like pets’.
The deer have terrorized Lochinver residents and damaged gardens in the past.
Now a group of six red deer have even been photographed around cars in the village of Sutherland, a popular stop on the NC500.
In June, a Highland red deer known as Callum the Stag was abandoned due to concerns about its health – after becoming dependent on food given to it by tourists.
The deer was well known to visitors to the Beinn Eighe car park in Torridon, and often walked up to visitors taking photos.
Tourists are accused of deer setting up a base in the Scotts village of Lochinver (pictured).
Visitors had fed him the wrong food, causing the deer to lose its teeth and become unable to forage.
In 2020, tourists were warned not to give friendly red deer whiskey in Glen Coe after it was claimed the animals were getting drunk.
Now deer have taken up residence in Lochinver, lured by tourist food.
Local Highland councilor Hugh Morrison said: ‘This is a long-standing problem, caused in large part by tourists feeding the animals.
‘It is easy for the deer to attract them to the center of the village, but after the tourists leave, it is the locals who have to pick up the damage. I would urge visitors to think more carefully about the consequences of their actions for the people who live there. You can’t treat them like pets, they’re wild animals.’
His comments were echoed by Simon Jeffreys of the Assynt Foundation, which organized a community purchase of the 44,000-hectare Glencanisp and Drumrunie Estates from the Vestey family meat barons in 2005.
“People feed the deer and that brings them to the village. It is difficult to stop them, but the problem has been significantly reduced by a culling program that is still ongoing,” he said.
The Assynt Community Council previously demanded urgent action following the problems in Lochinver.
Described by the local Highland Council as a ‘long-running problem’, visitors are urged not to treat the deer as pets as locals ‘have to deal with the damage’ (photo: Deer in Lochinver)
In the past, cars have been damaged and gardens destroyed, and reports are that the animals are becoming increasingly aggressive
Attempts to keep deer out with special fencing have not been entirely successful and have proven to be a costly exercise.
Once the deer enter the village, they often cannot get out, meaning they have become too familiar with the human population.
But many locals say they are being chased by deer and there is growing concern about the risk of Lyme disease from ticks carried by the animals.
The West Sutherland Deer Management Group previously offered its expertise to find a solution, claiming at the time: ‘Lochinver needs as many attractions as possible and deer are a major tourist attraction.’