Hungry Deer Raid Suburban Gardens

Chronicle (Levin), 9 August 1949, Page 5

Hungry Deer Raid Suburban Gardens

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, August 8. Driven by the winter food shortage in the hills, wild deer have been fnarauding gardens at Mahina Bay, near Eastbourne, Wellington. A milkman on liis early mnrnijig round freqently encounters them in gardens and shrubberies where thev have done much damage. Most residents near' the busli-covered slopes have given up hopes of raising a garden. "The deer eat everything," one resident said. "They love vegetables and small ornamental shrubs. We lost a whole bed of prize asters last week. The damage tliev can do in one night is incredible. Tn a few hours thev will lay waste a garden that has taken months to build. They will root down for carrots or tubers. They stop at nothing. Th'e only place we can grow things is in a roped off area within a few feet of our back door." Because the animals came so close to dwellings, it was dangerous to fire at them, eontinued the resident. Scveral of the scrawny and undernourished deer had been shot recently but others return night after night and several have been seen even in day^ time approaehing closely to , liouses. Organised hunts have been held but with small suecessj said the residt&t. Bold at night, most of the animalf..-fe-treated to the bnsh in the daytime.