Police Looking For Man Who Butchered Deer In Community Garden

ST. LOUIS, MO — Police are looking for a man they say butchered a deer in a south St. Louis community garden on Tuesday. The incident, which happened in the McKinley Heights neighborhood, was caught on video posted to the social network NextDoor, KMOV reports.

Animal control officials say they found a number of deer skins and two deer heads in the community garden, as well as blood on a tree where it appears the man hung the butchered animal. Officials said they are concerned residents or pets could be exposed to diseases.

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Officials say deer populations have been on the rise in recent years. As natural habitats are being cleared, the animals are taking refuge in residential neighborhoods, where food is abundant and predators few and far between, wildlife experts say.

As populations rise, deer may increasingly stray into family gardens in search of food, and the chance for run-ins with motor vehicles increases drastically, leading to some municipalities approving regulated hunting.

It's not clear if the deer was legally hunted, officials told KMOV. They are investigating and want to speak with the man who butchered it.

Read more from KMOV.

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