13-12-2005, 10:04 AM
Night-time deer cull on busy road
Deer have been straying onto the A9 in Perthshire
Deer straying onto the A9 in Perthshire are to be shot at night by a marksman in a bid to reduce accidents.
There has been growing concern about the number of carcasses being found by the roadside, thought to have been killed after being struck by a vehicle.
The first in a series of culls is to take place along a two-mile stretch of road north of Dunkeld on Tuesday night.
The Deer Commission and Tayside Police said it was vital for public safety, and could avert a serious accident.
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said they had been made aware of a number of accidents involving deer over the past four weeks.
"Deer on the A9 represent a clear threat to public safety," she said.
"Steps must be taken to avoid deer potentially causing serious road accidents, either by colliding with cars or by forcing drivers to take sudden evasive action.
The police recently reported 12 deer carcasses on the roadside over a period of 10 days
Erlend Barclay
Deer Commission Scotland
"Culling is the only obvious solution to the problem."
The Deer Commission for Scotland said the long-term solution would be to put up deer fences along the road.
Spokesman Erlend Barclay said deer may have become displaced from their normal habitat following floods in the area.
He said: "The police recently reported 12 deer carcasses on the roadside over a period of 10 days and it was thought this was linked to road collisions.
"We are concerned that this could lead to a serious road accident."
Cars will be halted for 10 minutes at a time between 2300 and 0500 GMT, while the first cull takes place.
It is thought that about 15 animals will be killed during the operation.
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.
Deer have been straying onto the A9 in Perthshire
Deer straying onto the A9 in Perthshire are to be shot at night by a marksman in a bid to reduce accidents.
There has been growing concern about the number of carcasses being found by the roadside, thought to have been killed after being struck by a vehicle.
The first in a series of culls is to take place along a two-mile stretch of road north of Dunkeld on Tuesday night.
The Deer Commission and Tayside Police said it was vital for public safety, and could avert a serious accident.
A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said they had been made aware of a number of accidents involving deer over the past four weeks.
"Deer on the A9 represent a clear threat to public safety," she said.
"Steps must be taken to avoid deer potentially causing serious road accidents, either by colliding with cars or by forcing drivers to take sudden evasive action.
The police recently reported 12 deer carcasses on the roadside over a period of 10 days
Erlend Barclay
Deer Commission Scotland
"Culling is the only obvious solution to the problem."
The Deer Commission for Scotland said the long-term solution would be to put up deer fences along the road.
Spokesman Erlend Barclay said deer may have become displaced from their normal habitat following floods in the area.
He said: "The police recently reported 12 deer carcasses on the roadside over a period of 10 days and it was thought this was linked to road collisions.
"We are concerned that this could lead to a serious road accident."
Cars will be halted for 10 minutes at a time between 2300 and 0500 GMT, while the first cull takes place.
It is thought that about 15 animals will be killed during the operation.
Mvh
Kim
Jeg er ikke fejlfri,men det er så tæt på at det skræmmer mig.