Still no action over deer problem two years on
TWO years after a multi-agency meeting was held to help solve the sharp rise in deer numbers in the national park and their increasing presence on Kerry’s roads, the problem is worse than ever.
In 2017, a meeting was held between the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Gardaí, Kerry Deer Society, Kerry County Council officials and elected representatives to formulate a deer management plan
They discussed roadside signage, the removal of vegetation from the roadside to improve visibility for drivers and a management plan to monitor and keep numbers in check.
But there has been little evidence of change since. Meanwhile, the instances of deer spotted by the roadsides is increasing to alarming levels according to a number of concerned locals who have called for immediate action.
Local campaigner Christy Sheehan regularly walks the national park and is aware of several near misses between cars and deer in recent years.
“I walk there every day and at last count I saw 160 deer grazing in the fields around Ballydowney. I grew up here and I never remember seeing deer in this area but now I see them on the roadsides. There are seven open entrances between Knockreer House and the golf club that allow deer to walk freely onto the road.”
Mother-of-three Gillian Hughes has been personally affected. Her sister Paula died in a car accident near Sixty Seconds in Fossa in 2006. Paula was driving alone, under the speed limit, when her car left the road and overturned. At her inquest, Gardaí in a deposition said there were deer on the road that night next to the scene.
“The PSV inspector was able to tell us that Paula was travelling 15mph under the speed limit, there were swerve marks but no sign of brake marks meaning that she had no time to react. Her toxicology tests were clear, she was not on her phone, she was a careful driver and an animal lover, Paula did nothing wrong. Something caused Paula to swerve that night and I am fully convinced it was a deer. Paula did not have time to react, that is what happens when a deer jumps in front of, or onto, the bonnet of your car from inside a ditch. From reading reactions on social media this week I think there is a misconception that if you drive carefully, under the speed limit and break when you see a deer that no one, including the deer, will get hurt.
“Unfortunately my family and I know differently, Paula died from a head injury when her head hit the pillar of the car, she was alive at the scene but died later that night at UHK,” Gillian said. “That was 13 years ago but when Christy approached me to support his campaign, I didn’t think twice. I don’t want any mother or father ever again to go through the pain that I had to watch mine go through. It was and still is utterly heart-breaking.
“I’m worried that many drivers don’t understand the dangers deer pose, that they are costing lives and that people aren’t aware of the number of accidents happening. Because statistics of Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) involving deer are not available, it’s hard to convince people just how many accidents or near misses that are occurring on a daily basis.
“Since we started highlighting the issue nearly two weeks ago I have been made aware of eight accidents on this stretch of road involving deer and 10 near misses – that’s from people who have approached me and responses on social media. People have also approached Michael Healy Rae and former coroner Terence Casey reporting similar accounts.
There has been mixed reaction on social media, from calls to leave deer alone, to eco crossings and reducing speed limits. Contrary to what I have read recently on social media, I am not highlighting this because I want to hunt deer. Walking or cycling on the path from the Castlerosse into Killarney I find the sight of the deer grazing so close beside me just breath-taking, but it is hard not to notice the staggering increase in numbers. From a population of less than 100 in the early 1970s to over 1,000 today, it is a sad fact that they are increasingly being seen on the roadside around the national park and further afield too as herd sizes continue to grow.
“It may also be worth noting that we now have less than half the number of park rangers to manage and monitor an ever increasing problem.
“I know the issue is divisive – but there must be a solution. We need to manage our beautiful deer better before any more people or deer are injured or killed on our roads. Neither set of statistics are available but I can only imagine they are staggering. It’s difficult for relevant bodies to make informed decisions when the number of accidents, caused solely by deer, is not available. When an accident involving deer is reported to the Gardaí there seems to be no separate category for it to be logged under.
“Perhaps we need to begin by finding a way to collate these statistics so we know exactly what we’re dealing with and publish the hard facts of the number of RTA’s caused by deer. Having the numbers may highlight the seriousness of the situation.”
Also supporting the call for action is Reen, Killorglin man Donal Moroney who’s partner Susan von der Geest ’s car left the road and hit a tree at Ballydowney in 2014. She died instantly.
Susan’s inquest highlighted deer a probable cause. “We need proper signage, there are a huge number of buses passing every day and it is only a matter of time before a catastrophe happens.
“If it was a private farm you would fence your animals in. We need proper fencing or some kind of a barrier, even a crash barrier. A wall was taken down years ago they should have put a barrier back up,” Donal said.
Former coroner Terence Casey said he received a massive number of calls after Susan’s inquest. “If you hit a Red Deer it’s like hitting a wall. We need to stop the free flow of animals onto the road - if some sort of barrier hindered only 50 per cent of the deer wouldn’t that be an improvement? I’ve suggested to the Board of Works to install a fence back from the road but this has been rejected as it would affect the aesthetics.
“But if we can save one life then all of this will be worthwhile.”
Meanwhile, Gardaí in Killarney say that anyone involved in a road traffic incident involving deer should contact the station.
MANY DRIVERS DON’T UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS DEER POSE, THEY ARE COSTING LIVES.