The Office of Public Works (OPW) is asking the public to not feed the deer in Phoenix Park, inviting children to post letters to Santa instead.

Since deer are often associated with Santa and his sleigh, making them a special part of the festive period, visitors to the Dublin park are being asked to spread joy and cheer by posting letters instead of approaching the deer.

Ahead of Christmas, special green post boxes have been installed around the park where children can post their letters to Santa.

The green post boxes can be found at the Papal Cross Car Park, the Phoenix Park Visitors Centre Car Park, and the Camogie Grounds Car Park off Chesterfield Avenue. Families with young children are encouraged to use these post boxes as a way to show their concern for the well-being of the wild deer.

Phoenix Park is home to approximately 600 wild fallow deer and human feeding of the animals can have a detrimental impact on their behavior and well-being.

The park launched a campaign earlier this year called 'Protect Our Park - Don't Feed the Deer.' Visitors are reminded to keep their distance, stay at least 50 meters away, and to refrain from feeding or taking selfies with the deer. This behavior can pose significant risks to both the deer and visitors, especially children.

The initiative comes in response to a report from University College Dublin (UCD), which highlights the detrimental impact of human feeding on the behaviour and well-being of the park’s iconic deer population.

The UCD report, conducted in collaboration with the OPW, reveals the impact on the deer of human feeding by tourists and members of the public. The result is a significant alteration in the natural behaviour patterns of the deer.

OPW Park Superintendent, Paul McDonnell, who has witnessed the range of human efforts to engage the wild deer said:

“It is very understandable that people of all ages want to get close to the wild deer especially at this time of year. They are beautiful wild animals, and as we experience the loss of wildlife around us we are naturally drawn to engage with it when we see it. Deer have been the subject of many books and films, especially at Christmas and have a special place in our hearts. However, these depictions often make them appear domesticated which they are not. It has led many of us to believe that we are being helpful when we give them carrots or bread but we are causing significant long term harm to the animals and potentially ourselves.

"The wild deer also pose a significant threat of injury, especially to young people given their size and potentially erratic behaviour. We remind visitors to avoid feeding the deer and to observe their natural behaviors from a respectful distance of at least 50 meters.”

Related: Christmas, Dublin