Varde municipality warns against feeding red deer as wolves follow

Varde Municipality is warning people not to feed red deer and to keep their distance during the animals’ rutting season, DR reports.

The municipality and Naturpark Vesterhavet say feeding red deer near people can create dangerous situations. September is the animals’ mating season, increasing the risk of attacks.

“You cannot think, ‘Here comes a cute deer,’ and then feed it in town,” said Jonna Jul Gudmundsen, chair of Varde’s Technical and Environment Committee. She said the animals react differently during the rut and urged people to respect them.

The municipality has published posters on its website that holiday-home owners can print and display in their homes or holiday-home areas. The warning is available in Danish, English and German, along with information about keeping a safe distance and reading the animals’ body language.

There have already been incidents involving red deer in the municipality. Last year, an elderly woman was gored by a red deer in Blåvand.

Wolves follow the red deer

Although the current warning focuses on red deer, wolves also feature in the municipality’s information campaign. Anders Poulsen, a project manager at Naturpark Vesterhavet, said wolves primarily feed on red deer.

“Where there are red deer, there will also be, or eventually come, wolves,” he said. The municipality and the nature park therefore want to prevent red deer from becoming accustomed to finding food near people.

“You would have to be a stupid wolf not to follow the red deer into town and eat them there,” Gudmundsen said.