A rather grisly find ...

[james bennet]

Whilst I was out for a stroll yesterday, I came across a roe deer head on a spike, placed on a fence bordering a large private estate. I can only assume this is intended to serve some form of grisly detterent against other deer, but it gave me quite a start, and I can only imagine how the familiies with young children who frequently use the path must react.

I understand deer cause damage and need to be controlled (although this estate has no arable land to speak of - only chalk stream fishing and pastureland) but this custom seems to hark back to a more primitive time and can't do much for public relations.

Has anyone else encountered anything similar? What purpose does it serve?

[Dogghound]

If its to put off other deer I doubt it would work. Probrably kids messing around.

[Phoebe]

I remember seeing some sort of birds, can’t remember which, but they were stuck up on stakes in a field of crops - obviously to deter other birds from eating the seed. It’s a horrible thing to do and must attract flies and the smell must be awful

[Carl]

Probaly some sick twisted kids thinking it`s fun.

[bodshi]

I remember seeing some sort of birds, can’t remember which, but they were stuck up on stakes in a field of crops - obviously to deter other birds from eating the seed. It’s a horrible thing to do and must attract flies and the smell must be awful

Were they crows? They still do that round here - string dead crows up as a deterrent to other birds. Don't know whether it works.

Never seen a deer's head on a spike though - how horrible! I did find one that looked like it had been chopped up and burnt when out with the dog a few years ago but that was nothing like as gruesome. I agree, it could be very traumatising for adults, never mind kids!

[Phoebe]

Yes I think it might have been crows, I'll have a look next time I'm passing, there were dozens of them

[BloomingMarvellous]

When I was around 10 years of age my Brother and I found a Dead Fox high up In the branches of a large tree, we found the whole experience very disturbing but sort of worked out at such a young age that It didn't get there by Itself.

[Phoebe]

Had it been ripped open? It could have been flung away after a hunt.

I remember as a child going to play in the fields and swamps LOL and finding an almost dead cat nailed to an Oak tree by it's tail. We knew who the culprit was

[Jason Green]

Following on from another thread regarding birds recognising the dead of its own species, I doubt it'd work. My thoughts on the matter is that if this has to be done, there should be warning signs... not everyone would expect it; it would obviously give people a bit of a surprise

[Phoebe]

It certainly would Jason