Bradgate Park: Plastic poo bags found in deer's gut

The deer could be associating the bags with picnic food

Dog walkers have been ordered to bin their pet's waste after a deer's stomach was found to be full of plastic poo bags at a park in Leicestershire.

The discovery was made at Bradgate Park, in Newtown Linford on Tuesday following an annual deer cull.

Peter Tyldesley, director of the Bradgate Park Trust, said leaving dog mess lying around in plastic bags is "lethal" for all wildlife.

He said the culled deer was in good health despite the contents of its gut.

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The contents of the deer's stomach was found to have contained a number of plastic bags

Mr Tyldesley said: "When we examined its internal organs, to make sure its not got any parasites or diseases, we found the stomach was full of plastic dog poo bags.

He said animals had been found in the past "looking emaciated and in poor health" and later their stomachs were found to be "full of plastic".

"This is the first time that one has been walking around apparently healthy ... you do wonder how many animals out there have ingested a whole load of plastic."

He added the deer could be associating the bags with picnic food.