Comments on: Unconfirmed Roe Deer Deaths

By: philjay

philjay — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:08:27 +0000

Not sure Ann, I sent a letter via email to Bolton News last wednesday rebuking UU most strongly, however it hasn’t appeared yet. Maybe not a big enough story to warrant printing. Perhaps if others care to write to BEN we may stir a bit of interest.

By: Ann Jones

Ann Jones — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:59:19 +0000

Has anyone been on the United Utilities website and read their “commitment to environment, habitat and wildlife”. There’s a lovely photograph of three Roe deer with the caption
“Roe Deer grazing, a common sight on United Utilities land around Rivington and Macclesfield”. It’s hypocritical to say the least in view of their recent slaughter of these magnificent animals. Any suggestions as to how we can show the general public the true colours of United Utilities? Guardians of the environment they are not, at least not at Rivington.

By: Eileen Thomasson

Eileen Thomasson — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:02:02 +0000

Its to much like hard work for them to put a fence up to keep the deer out.Anyway its more fun using the deer for target practice.

By: bob dootson

bob dootson — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:25:28 +0000

If UU are stuck for fencing, maybe they could use the unclimable metal fence that they removed from Lever Park.
Or is FENCING, TREES and DEER treated the same ?
They only know how to bring them DOWN !

By: Mrs Kathleen Bell

Mrs Kathleen Bell — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:21:30 +0000

I spoke to a National Trust person today at Lyme Park. They have a herd of red and fallow deer. I knew they had a water treatment plant in Lyme Park so I asked if the deer ever strayed into the plant and if they did did they contaminate the water.

I was told that although the treatment plant is contained and away from the deer sanctuary, deer do occasionally stray into the plant and if they do they are just herded out. I explained the situation with the roe deer in Lever Park and how 3 had been shot, because United Utilities said they could cause contamination in the water.

I was told that deer do not contaminate the water and the reason the roe deer would have been shot, was because United Utilities deem them to be a problem in Lever Park, because they damage trees and other vegetation.

By: David

David — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:28:28 +0000

Deer and water supplies don’t mix. Cryptosporidium is present in deer droppings (as it will be in most animal droppings). The World Health Organisation has produced some scientific research (see links at the bottom of this comment).

However…

Cryptosporidium will only be an issue if the deer had direct access to the water treatment works. United Utilties need to get their house in order. The best way to stop deer posing any threat to the water supply is by using an effective fence. Nothing high tech or complicated, just a simple FENCE, using materials you could get from B&Q.

United Utilities really aren’t doing their job. Protecting the watersheds is a primary duty. Deer droppings in the water supply is a major health and safety issue to humans. Cryptosporidium kills people. Let’s hope no Cryptosporidium got into the water supply this time. If it does, we might live to regret it!

DEFRA might well be interested in this case, if not because of the deer cull, then from the public health implications.

The WHO study is here:
http://www.iwaponline.com/wst/05801/0127/058010127.pdf

More research here:
http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/water-efficiency/gains-from-improved-drinking-water/improved-drinking-water-04.htm

…and here:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18653946

By: Eileen Thomasson

Eileen Thomasson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:03:23 +0000

I have just found out from my sister who asked at a wildlife park if it is true that deer contaminate water.They said its not true,they will have culled them because they deem them to be a nuisance.

By: bob dootson

bob dootson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:54:53 +0000

I have received a reply from Mr Neville Kidd (catchment manager) regarding the Roe deer deaths.
His reply refered me to the Bolton News Website, and that was it.
It does appear by this reply , that UU are treating us with contempt.

By: Mrs Kathleen Bell

Mrs Kathleen Bell — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:45:10 +0000

Thanks Phil, I was so desperate that I even looked on the net to see if “Swampy” (do you remember Swampy, who lived in the trees?) had a website. I couldn’t find any information about him.

I think it is a good idea to try to get Bill Bryson involved with the Lever Park issue. Lever Park has already been vandalised with Chorley Council and United Utilities blessing, which part of Rural England will be the next to be vandalised with the blessing of their borough councils.

By: philjay

philjay — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:30:27 +0000

Well done Kathleen and Paul and just to let you know I issued a written comment to BEN regarding the deer atrocity, which should be printed either today or tomorrow. Don’t know whether it’s of any value but the esteemed author Bill Bryson (who just happens to be American) is high up on the board at CPRE and fights with passion for the protection of all rural areas under threat. Maybe we try to get him involved.