More infoThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has paid snipers more than €17,000 to kill 118 deer in the Phoenix Park since the beginning of last year – some of which were fawns less than one year old. Four culls took place at the park last year, resulting in 93 wild deer being fatally shot. The report recommended that "at least 65 individuals" should be targeted during each culling season in order to keep the deer population in the Phoenix Park "stable and sustainable". Deer that die from natural causes, road traffic accidents or are "humanely dispatched" in the Phoenix Park are now placed in a blue bin for collection by animal rendering contractors. A spokeswoman for the OPW said the deer herd in the Phoenix Park is managed in line with advice from the Department of Agriculture and experts based at UCD, with regard to international best practice.