Locals fury as NC500 tourist spotted feeding stag WEETABIX

HIGHLAND residents are up in arms after a dopey tourist photographed themselves feeding a stag WEETABIX from their car window.

The wild male deer was pictured at the window of a parked car, chewing on breakfast cereal accepted from the punter’s hand.

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The photograph shared to Facebook caused widespread concern about tourists feeding wild animals, sparking further tensions between residents and visitors over respecting the land.

Locals who live on the North Coast 500 route – a 516-mile stretch of road around the north of Scotland- were quick to warn how irresponsible it can be to feed wild animals human food.

One said by feeding the animal Weetabix, they were signing the animal’s death warrant.

Another added: “Really fed up with how much people disrespect them.”

A third added: ” How stupid can people get? A deer is a wild animal.. Respect its lifestyle (which does NOT include cereal!!)”

Red deer are the largest native land animal in the UK and are found mainly in northern Scotland.

They live in large groups and as herbivores graze on grasses, sedges, heather and woody plants.

And there are many reasons why wild deer should not be fed by humans.

Feeding wild deer human food will cause problems as it can take their stomachs some time to adapt to any new items of diet that they are not used to.  

They should not be fed processed food as it does not suit their digestive system and cause illness.

Feeding deer and other wild animals can encourage an unhealthy dependency as well as having other potential consequences. 

Deer can develop unnatural levels of assertiveness after learning to accept food from human hands.

This has led to reports of aggressive behaviour and even deer physically bullying people for food.  

Female deer will also become defensive over their young during birthing season between May-July.

Deer can grow to around 200kg and have very sharp hooves they can use in self defence.

And just a small movement of a stag or buck’s head can cause serious damage to a passer-by.

Later in the year, rising levels of testosterone during the annual rut between stags can also cause a risk to humans who get too close.

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