Slow down for deer, warns wildlife organisation Deer Emergency after around 20 emergency calls in the New Forest in a fortnight

A WILDLIFE rescue organisation is urging motorists to slow down and be alert to the dangers of deer during the rutting season.

Tony Lascelles, who runs Deer Emergency, revealed he and another volunteer colleague have responded to around 20 emergency calls in the last fortnight, including three in one day on Friday 18th October.

He said: “At this time of year particularly, the deer are moving around a lot. It is the rutting season for the red, sika and fallow deer so they are moving between wooded areas and fields.

“Deer are usually in a herd and are often moving very quickly so motorists should be aware – just as the public are warned of the dangers of New Forest ponies on the roads, the same is true of deer.”

Tony said if anyone finds an injured or dead deer on the road they should phone the police for help.

However, if the animal is in woodland or land owned by the Crown, then Forestry England should be contacted.

If the deer is on private property, a call should go to Deer Emergency, a self-funding organisation based in Boldre. This group can also be contacted if there is uncertainty, as volunteers will be able to advise or triage the call.

Tony said: “We work closely with all the agencies involved when a deer is injured, including local vets, animal rescue organisations, the RSPCA and the verderers and agisters.

“We not only go out to tend to injured deer but we also give people advice if they have hit one or have seen one that is hurt.

“We can tell them exactly who to call and what to do – like giving the exact location of the animal and the details of injuries if they are apparent.

“We also tell them keep away in order not to stress the animal further and put themselves at risk.”

Now retired, Tony was a fire officer with Hampshire Fire and Rescue for more than 20 years, which sometimes led to him assisting with wildlife rescues.

Tony said: “I love wildlife and Deer Emergency is something I can do to help. Sometimes the injuries are so severe that the only outcome can be allowing the animal to have a humane exit, but there are other occasions when we can save a deer and it can be rehabilitated.

“I work closely with Wiltshire Wildlife Rescue and Gorley Wildlife Rescue run by Michael Meeks and his team of volunteers.

“If we get to an animal and there is a prospect that it can be rehabilitated and released back into the wild, then they deserve to have that chance. They are such magnificent creatures.”

Tony added: “The speed limit in the Forest is mostly 40mph but that does not mean you have to go at that speed. Travelling at 20-30mph will give a deer, especially a small roe deer, a much better chance of survival if hit.”

To contact Deer Emergency, call 0800 4480150.