UP to 600 deer in Donegal should be culled in order to reduce danger for drivers on the county's roads, it has been claimed.
Independent Donegal County Council member Michael McClafferty said the issue for motorists in parts of the county is "extremely serious" and warned that the animals are "causing smashes and damaging property".
The Donegal News website reported that the councillor believes at least 600 deer must be taken "out of the equation" in order to keep the population under control and improve safety on roads.
His call came after the owner of an animal park on the Derry-Donegal border recently suggested re-introducing wolves into the wild to naturally reduce the number of deer that have even taken to grazing in peoples' gardens due to increasing numbers.
"People may see it as grotesque and animal cruelty; I can understand why they would say that but what is the alternative?" Mr McClafferty said.
The councillor has called on Glenveagh National Park and the Republic's National Parks and Wildlife Service to do more to tackle the deer problem.
"At the end of the day if my sheep, or my cow or my dog breaks out and goes onto the main road and they cause a smash, then I am held responsible," he said.
Calls to cull herds have been criticised by the Dublin-based Alliance for Animal Rights group, which has called the proposal "inhumane".
A public consultation is underway in the Republic for people to have their say on the state's Deer Management Strategy, with submissions open until February 10.
In a joint statement, agriculture minister Charlie McConalogue and housing minister Darragh O'Brien said: "For agriculture as well as our nature ecosystems, it is important that we aware of the need for the sustainable management of our national deer population. These include the protection of biodiversity, newly planted forestry, pasture and crops, road safety, animal health, public health, and not least the health and welfare of the deer themselves."