Police shoot rare white stag dead after it was seen running through residential streets

A rare white stag seen running through the streets of Bootle has been shot dead, Merseyside Police has confirmed today.

The animal was spotted by bemused residents yesterday at a number of different locations across the town, with social media being inundated with photos and videos of the bizarre spectacle.

Amid concerns for the stag’s safety, armed police were called out to assist with the situation; they managed to corner the stag in an industrial estate along with the help of a vet who attended the scene to monitor the animal’s welfare.

However, while several enquiries were allegedly made to find an organisation who could assist with recovering the deer safely, Merseyside Police say they were unable to get assistance and as the hours went by the deer became more distressed, ITV News reported.

As a result of this, the police made the decision to euthanise the deer in the early evening.

The RSPCA released a statement following the shooting of the stag, saying they had instructed the police to ‘leave it alone’ and that ‘it would find its own way back’. However, the animal charity did add: “In cases such as this where public safety is a consideration it is a matter for the police to deal with.

“It is possible that the deer could be sedated and moved to a place of safety to be released, but this needs to be done with caution in a public area such as this one, as the deer could startle and run when hit by the dart which could create a bigger public safety issue.”

Merseyside Police quickly addressed the incident, saying they were left with ‘no option’ but to the shoot the animal. Their statement read: “There was no option to let the deer wander as it could be a danger to motorists and members of the public in the area, particularly as the hours of darkness approached.”

Since the news broke of the stag’s death, people have been reacting with anger and horror, with many taking to social media to express their outrage over the situation. 

One person wrote: “Stabbings, shootings, house robberies happening daily they haven’t got the resource to respond. Stag on the loose and the might of Merseyside police find a spare armed response!!”

Another commented: “In times past, tales would have been told of this wonderful animal. The White Stag of Bootle would have become a creature of folklore. Nowadays, sadly, it is considered nothing more than a nuisance to be swiftly dealt with.”