Four deer died in a month at Bradgate Park. Park officials remind dog walkers to control their pets and follow leash rules.
The park wants everyone to protect the wildlife, and they stressed that dogs must be kept under control. Back in 2016, the park made some rules where dogs had to be on leads between April and October in the southern part.
The park gives £100 fines for breaking the rules. They made that rule after many deer attacks; thirty deer got attacked back in 2015. The rule changed in 2018 and now applies to all months.
Some people want even stricter rules, suggesting dogs should be on leads everywhere in the park. The park said they had too many incidents involving dogs chasing wildlife, causing deer deaths. Therefore, visitors need to be careful with wildlife there.
High-speed chases can hurt animals, causing them to die from stress or injuries. Be mindful of the deer, because when dogs run loose, they can scare these animals. Wildlife protection is our shared job.
If your dog roams in the upper area, control it, the park said, thanking people for helping. One person suggested dogs should be on leads in wildlife parks, while another said all park dogs need leads at all times.
Many people agree with leashes, arguing that even well-behaved dogs can hunt instinctively. Use a lead, people say, as it’s fair for everyone and safer too. Someone even suggested other parks for unleashed dogs.
Bradgate Park protects deer and other wildlife, and dogs are just visitors, one person noted. Another person called the issue unacceptable, stating all should use leads, since dogs can be unpredictable around deer. One woman now avoids the park due to too many loose dogs, and she suggested using extendable leads.