Daltonganj: A pack of stray dogs mauled a two-year-old spotted deer to death in Chhaterpur area of Palamu district late on Sunday. The deer had got separated from its herd when a few dogs chased it, forester in-charge Laxmikant Pandey on Monday.Medininagar’s divisional forest officer Satyam Kumar said that there has been a considerable rise of population of deer in Chhaterpur jungle but dog menace is also growing.Sources said straying of wildlife animals into human habitation is often for food and water. DFO said “Over grazing by local farmers’ cattle leaves less food for herbivores.”The division has planned to raise more green pasture in its jungles across the Palamu district, he said.“Medininagar forest division has over 1685 square kilometres of forests across territorial and two afforestation ranges. There are water bodies at Masihani and Sarma close to Chhaterpur where availability of water is good. This apart, small water pits have been dug up at different locations,” the DFO said.