Phoenix Park deer born heavier due to visitor feeding that risks 'begging' becoming a danger

Rise in begging trait could see some animals become more aggressive when trying to obtain food, putting the safety of both themselves and people at risk, researchers say. File picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

The trend of people feeding wild animals such as deer has been linked to the artificial selection of "harassment behaviour" in some species, putting the safety of both humans and wildlife at risk, a new study has found.

Researchers from University College Dublin said feeding wild animals could lead to some species consistently harassing people, following their study based on the fallow deer population in the Phoenix Park.