Islanders have voted towards culling all pink deer on a 93,000-acre property within the Outer Hebrides.
Quite a few residents inside South Uist Estate had raised issues in regards to the unfold of Lyme illness, which may be handed to people from parasitic ticks carried by deer.
There had additionally been complaints that the animals had been damaging grazing land and gardens.
A petition was launched calling for the removing of all deer from the property.
But in a vote on Monday organised by Storas Uibhist – the neighborhood group which owns the property – 379 residents backed to avoid wasting the animals towards 140 who needed them culled.
Storas Uibhist’s board believed eradicating all of the deer was pointless, however agree a big cull is required.
Chairperson Mary Schmoller stated it was “heartening” to see an enormous quantity of participation within the vote.
She added: “The large number of people present at last night’s meeting and the fact that so many members of the community took the time to vote shows that true democracy is alive and well on South Uist.”
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‘We have culled numerous deer this winter’
Chief government Darren Taylor added: “We are pleased that the community have supported the board’s position.
“We have culled numerous deer this winter and we’ll proceed to scale back the scale of the herd and cope with marauding animals shortly and successfully.
“At the same time we believe a well-managed deer herd is an asset to the island and we never thought eradication was the right path to take.”
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‘Cull targets have been elevated this yr’
NatureScot workers have been working intently with the Uist Deer Management Group.
A spokesperson from the Scottish authorities company stated: “Cull targets were increased this year following a helicopter count in August 2022 that confirmed the deer population is higher than previously thought.
“The community-owned South Uist Estate has been finishing up ongoing administration of deer and has exceeded their cull targets for each hinds and stags.
“NatureScot will work with the estate to address the negative impacts and ensure that effective management brings deer numbers and densities to sustainable levels.”
Source: information.sky.com”