Staggering ignorance

Deer management, an activity undertaken quietly and in solitude, enjoyed — or perhaps more accurately endured — a brief moment of national attention here in Ireland. An incident in Kerry raised questions regarding the management of red deer in the county.

In late October a red stag was observed by a tour group who had assembled to watch the rut of the wild red deer in parkland close to Killarney. Evidently unwell, the stag had deformed antlers and a pronounced loss of co-ordination in its hindquarters.

Numerous photos were taken and social media was soon alight with wild speculation