PEOPLE who are out in Scotland’s hills over Easter are being urged to avoid disturbing deer, as the animals attempt to recover from what has probably been the worst winter for more a decade.
The Scottish Gamekeepers Association says many more deer than usual have died this winter because of the severe weather.
Their food has been buried for months under deep and drifting snow which has then crusted over with hard frost, leaving vegetation virtually inaccessible.
The association says people out on the hills this weekend are more likely to encounter deer than usual. The animals retreat to lower ground for shelter in poor weather and many are still too weak to return to higher areas. The association is urging people to try to avoid disturbing the animals and ensure that dogs are kept under control.
Lea MacNally of the association said: “Deer are having to expend a lot of energy scraping down through frosted snow to get to food and, in many areas, snow hasn’t lifted for a long time. Some calves are barely standing.
“If folk are out and about over Easter they should try and give the deer a wide berth so as not to move them out of shelter. That could make the difference between life and death for weakened animals.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here