Specially installed fencing, underpasses and bridges over motorways and busy trunk roads in Essex are helping to reduce deer collisions.

Dr Jochen Langbein, Project Director working for Deer Initiative recently saw how a special motorway bridge over the M25 in Essex was being accepted by deer as 'their' crossing when he videoed a fallow deer on an evening walkabout there.

Dr Langbein, whose project is mainly funded by the Highways Agency said he was delighted to see the deer using the bridge.

Latest figures show there are between 800 and 1,200 deer collisions annually in Essex with 15 drivers or passengers injured. Essex has the second highest number of deer collisions in the UK.

Large increases of deer, mainly fallow and muntjac, with some roe, are being witnessed in mid Essex.

Herds of 14 fallow deer are regularly seen in the area north of Braintree, with fine stags among them.

Sgt Bob Beckwith, from Bocking Traffic Police whose area covers both Braintree and Uttlesford District Council asked drivers to be aware there were deer herds and take note of the animal road signs.

Dr Langbein, an independent research wildlife consultant who has been working with deer for 25 years said: "The new A120 in mid Essex has six miles of special deer fencing, from two to 2.2 metres high from Dunmow to Stansted.

"It is one of the longest sections on any 'A'road in the country.

"There is also an underpass and a number special bridges for the animals to help avoid collisions."

Historically, deer only used to move at dusk or early morning but now they can be seen at any time.

Dr Langbein added: "Rumble strips are now being experimented with on roads not only to slow traffic but also hopefully with the noise from them stopping them crossing when a vehicle was coming along."

Published Friday January 28, 2005

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