Forestry officials in Britain are asking the public's help to contain an exploding outbreak of deer that threatens to completely destroy the island's natural ecosystems, the Associated Press reports.
The infestation is a side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the ungulate parasites quickly multiplied while relatively unfettered by natural predators such as automobiles, trains, and human hunters who like to shoot at the closest thing to another human they legally can.
Venison wholesaler Ben Rigby tells the AP the flesh of the ravenous plague could catch on in popularity for human consumption. "We're not really a game-eating nation, not like in France or Germany or Scandinavia," Rigby said. "But the UK is becoming more and more aware of it and our trade is growing." Food pantry coordinator SJ Hunt said demand is growing because that's what they're serving these days. One recent hit was a venison bolognese sauce distributed in pouches to pantries last year when canned beans or sardines were the only proteins needy folks could get.
"There were no eggs. There was no cheese. That's all that they could do, and people were just saying, 'Thank you, please bring more (of the venison)," she said. "That's fantastic, because people realize they're doing a double positive with helping the environment by utilizing the meat as well."