Cairngorm Reindeer Herd asks for more care from dog owners
Following two incidents this week a plea has gone out on social media from the strath's famous reindeer herd for local dog owners to be more 'wildlife and reindeer aware' on the ski road from Glenmore up Cairngorm.
"We all want to get out and about in the lovely weather we have had recently, but having witnessed on two occasions this week dogs chasing the reindeer herd up Windy Ridge towards the top of Cairngorm, we are putting a wee message out there for dog owners to be more vigilant while exercising around these areas," a spokesperson said.
"Not only is our concern for the reindeer but also the local wildlife too.
"We know the dogs aren’t always going to harm the animals, or not intentionally, but last year we had to put one of our lovely female reindeer down due to her leg being so badly broken it was unfixable.
"This was due to a dog chasing the herd and her leg got trapped between boulders."
The herd currently consists mainly of pregnant females, due to calve in less than two months time.
"So please be aware! If you have any queries of where the reindeer are on a daily basis then feel free to give us a call at the Centre – 01479 861228. "If you don’t get in touch then please assume that you may well bump into them on the roads, cars parks or just over a nearby ridge (most often out of sight).
"This is due to the free range nature of our herd."
