‘DEER ARE BEING KILLED AS THEY STOP TO LICK ROAD SALT’
DEER stopping to lick de-icing salt may be a cause of a recent accidents relating to motorists colliding with the animals on local roads.
Cllr Michael Clarke suggested this theory in putting forward a motion at the recent meeting of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry municipal district calling for deer crossing signs to be erected on the N59 at Larkhill, Beltra, to Coolaney turns, because these incidents are killing the deer and causing damage to vehicles and drivers. Cllr Clarke said: “This motion is in relation to a herd of deer which is particularly active on the N59 road.
“A number have been killed there in the morning and I am reliably informed that the deer like the salt that is being spread on the roads to keep the frost away.
“They lick it and that’s why they are getting killed. I think three carcasses have been discovered on the Killally bends and I think it is fair we put up signs to make traffic aware it is a dangerous area for deer.”
Cllr Dara Mulvey supported the motion and asked for similar sigange in another area where motorists have encountered deer on the road.
“If they are looking at signage, there has also been a few reports from people driving on the L-2101 Coolaney to Collooney road who have encountered a lot of deer coming across the road from Tullaghan.”
Cllr Paul Taylor said deer licking de-icing salt is something he had never heard of before, but it was all the more reason for the council to urge drivers to be aware of deer in these areas.
“On the R293 I am aware there has been two accidents with deer. It is interesting what was mentioned about salt on the road, it isn’t something I have ever heard of locally and you normally don’t see deer on those roads so the public should be aware the danger is there.”
Director of services Emer Concannon said that Sligo County Council will erect deer crossing signs from the N59 from Beltra to Hungry Rock junction and that TII have made no objection to signage.
Cllr Clarke welcomed the report, before quipping: “Not many people know, but the animals talk to me. That’s why I know they like the salt.” Cllr Taylor responded: “Do they listen to you?”