'Don't feed deer' warning amid safety concerns

Rangers were called to deal with more than 164 deer killed when vehicles hit them on Cannock Chase last year, while deer are also getting caught in fences and football nets

More than 150 deer were killed when they were hit by vehicles last year, prompting rangers in Staffordshire to issue a safety warning to people.

Cannock Chase and Chasewater Country Park staff are also urging people not to feed the animals as this too can affect their safety, with some of the deer also getting stuck in fences and football nets.

Staffordshire County Council says deer associating cars with food creates a risk of them losing their natural fear of the noise and light emitted from vehicles.

A total of 164 deer collisions happened on Cannock Chase last year, prompting rangers to say that the "seemingly kind gesture" of feeding them "can actually be a recipe for disaster".

County council countryside officers said they have been receiving a rising number of complaints about people feeding deer from their cars and in the housing estates around country parks.

As a result, rangers have been increasingly called to incidents in residential areas where deer have become stuck.

Councillor Victoria Wilson urged people not to feed the deer

Victoria Wilson, from the council, said: "Feeding deer may feel like an act of kindness, but it can make them dangerously reliant on humans for food and more vulnerable to poachers.

"With more people feeding deer from their hands and from their vehicles, we've seen more deer approach humans and busy roads, putting them at risk of collisions with vehicles."

She said the food they are given often affects their natural digestion, which can lead to severe illness, dehydration, and even death.

"Please help us keep these beautiful animals safe by not feeding or approaching them and keeping dogs well away," she continued.

"Our countryside provides all the natural food they need to thrive."

With spring beginning to arrive, visitors may also spot baby deer huddled in the grass.

However, people are being urged to resist the urge to touch or move them, as a fawn's mother will often abandon her baby if it starts carrying human scent.

Anyone who hits a deer or sees one injured on the roadside is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 999, or 101 for deceased deer.