This is an interesting read - http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/04/ethical-kill-deer-badgers-conservationists-wildlife
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That's a very long & thought-provoking read IH, throws up so many issues but instant thoughts are that there is an alternative to culling badgers by using vaccination against TB so if we go down the medical intervention route then maybe deer population can be controlled by contraceptive methods?
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Wendy, That is an interesting concept but I suspect the difference is that the venison from deer is then eaten by humans, Would we want contraceptive drugs entering the human foodchain (although that might be an interesting discussion in its own right).
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I agree BP that it would be detrimental to eat such meat, therefore we should not do so, only eat from farmed sources where the animal numbers can be controlled by selective breeding!
I realise this is a big issue, but if wild herds were treated using contraception then their numbers would reduce over time & could be restocked where necessary.
Simplistic view I know but a start has to be made somewhere to prevent culling by shooting over & over!
Well actually I've been a Vegetarian since I was 5 years old and don't eat meat or fish at all. I do drink milk that comes from cows, but they don't have to kill cows for that. On the rare occasions I have something fried like chips, tomatoes, mushrooms etc, I do check that they are with vegetable oil. And I also like eggs from Chickens, but I always check that those eggs where incapable of hatching young hens. So for my sake deer don't have to be killed.
Regards,
Ian.
Of course we do have the other problem,that of commercial deer stalking under the name of culling,big money involved from what I understand.
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can