Deer Join Burger Van's Customers

Jan 27 2008 By Fiona Young

A PAIR of cheeky stags have become a burger van's most loyal customers.

Owner Earle MacDonald was stunned when the stags, who he has named Big Boy and Braveheart, turned up at his van.

Now they are daily visitors to The Oasis, which is on the A82 on Rannoch Moor, north of Bridge of Orchy, Argyll.

But the pair are not getting a taste for fast food. Earle, who does not sell venison burgers, gives them potatoes, carrots, apples, and mash from Kinlochleven Brewery.

Earle, 61, said: "They've taken to putting in a daily appearance. They come within a few feet of the snack bar, toss their heads and look expectantly."

The stags are so trusting they nuzzle Earle's apron pocket for vegetables.

And they are particularly fond of a piper who busks in the layby in summer, coming up and nudging him in the back.

But Earle admits that he has a hard job convincing customers at his van not to feed them sandwiches, sausage rolls and even, in the case of one coach driver, boiled sweets.