Somerset farmer may cull reindeer after council decision

Sarah Sutton, 51, keeps 10 reindeer on her farm and hosts a 'meet and greet' experience for visitors on her farm near Yeovil.

But now she fears Christmas is 'ruined' - after being told by the council they require a zoo license to continue their business - as reindeer are now classified as "dangerous and wild."

Earlier this year, Somerset Council was made aware of a complaint which raised concerns about the Somerset Reindeer Ranch offering public access for events on more than six days a year, which, under current legislation, due to the classification of reindeer as "dangerous and wild" animals, requires a zoo licence.

Following a review of the law and guidance, Somerset Council confirmed this requirement and wrote to the Ranch to advise them of their options: The ranch would have to apply for a zoo licence, or reduce the number of public opening days to six or fewer, which would remove the need for a licence.

Following this, MP Sarah Dyke has written to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a bid to help Sarah, who could be forced to pay thousands of pounds to have her farm re-classified.

In her letter, she said: "This reclassification threatens the viability of small-scale reindeer ranches across the country, including Somerset Reindeer Ranch, near Chilthorne Dormer, in my constituency of Glastonbury and Somerton.

"Without an exception for domesticated reindeer under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, owners of such animals are now only allowed to open to the public for six days in a 12-month period. The only alternative would be to obtain a zoo license, costing in excess of £100,000. This extortionate fee would make these small businesses unviable".

Sarah Sutton, who has run Somerset Reindeer Ranch for the past 14 years, has described the notion of reindeer being considered "dangerous and wild" as “absurd” because they have “the temperament of a dog crossed with a pony”.

She said: "I’m trying to run a business that makes people happy and spreads Christmas cheer.

"We should be happy and playing Christmas music and dancing, but each morning I’m waking up shaking.

"They have ruined Christmas.”

If Somerset Council does not go back on its decision, Sarah said she might have to euthanise her entire herd of reindeer, whose names are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Harry, Camilla, Aurora, Blitzen, Arthur, Snowflake and Comet.

A zoo licence, which is usually issued to sites that keep dangerous animals such as lions, requires strict safety measures, including having firearms in case of an escape.

In Somerset, applying for such a licence costs £2,747 and roughly £2,697 to renew it after four years.

The farm would also have to store ammunition and tranquilliser darts, due to Arthur the reindeer's height being classed among the highest risk animals by DEFRA.

Sarah, a former Iraq veteran, previously ran the 10-acre farm in Yeovil alongside her husband, David, 53, under an animal activity licence, where they would conduct their 'meet and greet' experiences.

In the past, they have also opened up their farm to schools, colleges and disability groups, and also take the reindeer off-site for events such as Christmas lights switch-ons.

But in October, Sarah and David were informed by the council that it had received a complaint about the public events.

The council have said that, in October, their officers confirmed with the owners that, in line with their enforcement policy, due to their wanting to resolve any non-compliance by applying for the correct licence and while they worked together to examine the implications of all the relevant legislation, the council would not take any formal enforcement steps.

A spokesperson for the Somerset Council said: "This approach took into account the individual circumstances, the complexity of the zoo licensing process, and the potential impact that immediate enforcement action could have on animal welfare.

"We also clarified that this position would not prevent Somerset Reindeer Ranch from taking bookings for any planned events."

The firm has been allowed to continue as normal over the festive period; however, its future in 2026 remains uncertain.

Somerset Council said: "We understand that obtaining a zoo licence is a lengthy process, and we have been mindful of the practicalities involved both leading up to and throughout the application.

"We will continue to provide advice and support, and assist in any way we can."