Drivers urged to be alert during deer rutting season in Sussex

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 11:44 · Archive

Drivers in Sussex are being warned to take extra care during deer rutting season, which peaks in October, as collision risks increase.

Drivers in Sussex have been warned to take extra care during the deer rutting season, which runs from late September to early November, with October the peak month of activity. Fallow deer are more likely to stray onto roads during this period, when stags compete aggressively for access to females.

The East Sussex Deer Warden said that the risk of striking a deer rises exponentially with less sunlight. A technical advisor at the British Deer Society noted that during rutting season, deer tend to move at dawn and dusk, coinciding with commuting times as the days get shorter. However, Ashdown Forest cautioned that deer movement can happen at any time of day, not just during morning and evening rush hours.

The British Deer Society estimates that over 40,000 deer are killed or injured on UK roads every year, though the figure may actually be closer to 74,000. Drivers are being urged to remain deer aware during autumn.

How it is being reported

• Iconic Sussex forest urges drivers to slow down for deerPeople are being urged to be aware of deer when using roads near to Ashdown Forest.Chichester Observer · 21 Oct, 11:23
• Drivers urged to be alert during deer rutting seasonThe East Sussex Deer Warden says risks of "striking a deer rises exponentially" with less sunlight.BBC Sussex · 20 Oct, 06:12

In this story: East Sussex · Sussex · British Deer Society · Ashdown Forest · UK

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