Road users warned of increasing deer casualties

ONE deer was killed every day on the Ashdown Forest roads last month.

During October 31 deer were found dead around the forest -bringing the total to more than 200 since the start of 2009

Dr Hew Prendergast, clerk to the Ashdown Forest Conservators, said: "In my view, it's probably just as bad everywhere else. It's everywhere and it's just getting worse.

"The bucks are wandering around and looking for their own group of does and, at the same time, the deer are feeding in the evenings, which coincides with the rush hour. It's the prime time for casualties, which is dreadful."

The figures don't take into account other rural areas surrounding East Grinstead, such as Turners Hill and Ardingly.

Forest Rangers reported 25 deer casualties in October 2008.

"It will go on like this for the next few months," Dr Prendergast added. "For every couple of deer that are killed, there's another that has been hit and runs away and dies somewhere else.

"People have got to slow down. The slower you go, the more chance you have got of avoiding a deer."

Nationwide campaign DeerAware was launched last month by the Highways Agency and The Deer Initiative in a bid to raise awareness of the danger of the animals on roads.

According to AA Car Insurance, the average claim payout for a deer strike is £1,403. Last year there were at least 42,500 reported collisions nationally, costing insurers more than £59million.

AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said: "Deer are an often unseen hazard until it's too late. As darkness falls collisions happen with little or no warning as the animals may literally leap out of woodland into the road. But places where deer are most likely to be seen are indicated by triangular hazard warning signs showing an image of a deer."

As of Monday (November 9) the deer casualty count in Ashdown Forest for 2009 stood at 202.

Dr Prendergast added: "We have a rapidly increasing population of deer causing more and more problems on the roads. If there's one deer in your headlights, always assume there's another one coming."

For more information visit www.deeraware.org.uk