Deer video prompts wolves debate

A super-herd of deer stopped traffic on the A15 in Lincolnshire

A large herd of deer seen pronking across a road in Lincolnshire has reopened the debate about controlling their numbers.

A video, posted on X, showed traffic queuing on the A15 to avoid hitting them.

Speaking on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4, a former government adviser, Ben Goldsmith, said wolves could be a solution to deer "wrecking crops".

But on the same programme the former head of the National Farmers' Union, Minette Batters, said culling was the only way forward.

'Out of control'

Mr Goldsmith, who previously advised the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs highlighted Europe as an example of where wolves keep the deer population under control.

Posting on X in response to the Lincolnshire video Mr Goldsmith said: "The landscape is becoming overwhelmed by deer which are wrecking crops. The return of native lynx and wolves would be the ideal solution. Seriously, why not?"

But Minette Batters, a former president of the National Farmers' Union, hit back at the idea during the debate on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday.

She said: "We can't entertain the idea of reintroducing wolves. It would be a danger to the public, a danger to pets and it's proven to to take out livestock in serious numbers.

"We need to control the deer population which is absolutely out of control and causing a lot of damage. Culling is the only way forward."

Last year, wildlife experts said growing animal numbers had led to an increase in incidents involving vehicles.

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