A DEER that invaded an allotment has prompted a council review of how to treat such cases in the future.
Last summer, Oki the deer set up home in the Ormonde Road allotments and a campaign was set up to prevent her from being shot. Thousands of people signed an online petition to protect the deer.
Despite attempts to capture the female roe deer, the animal left of her own accord and her current whereabouts are unknown.
At a meeting of the Wokingham Town Council (WTC) Amenities Committee on Tuesday, the committee talked about what they would do if Oki came back.
The policy dealing with the incursion by large wild mammals onto WTC parks, gardens, allotments and open spaces aims to assess the situation.
The policy says that if the animal is healthy and uninjured attempts to scare the creature off will be made.
Advice will always be sought from registered animal charities with a proven experience and expertise in safely capturing large wild mammals.
If the animal is assessed to be sick, injured or overly aggressive WTC will seek advice from vets, the RSPCA, Hillside Animal Rescue or St Tiggywinkles for the most humane course of action for the animal and safety of Wokingham residents and visitors.
Councillor Mark Ashwell, chair of the amenities committee, told The Wokingham Paper: “This policy has the welfare of the animals at its heart.
“If a deer or other large wild animal was seen on an allotment we would immediately contact Hillside to get the animal removed.”
In November 2015, the committee decided not to install deer-proof fencing at its Latimer Road and Ormonde Road allotment sites on the grounds of cost.
