88 deer seen on stretch of A9 near Helmsdale on one night
Drivers using the A9 close to the boundary of Sutherland and Caithness are being warned to look out for deer after a stretch of road was identified as high risk for collisions.
A new road safety campaign is set to get under way from Saturday to highlight the dangers of deer crossing the trunk road.
It follows feedback from road users in the community and new research by Scotland’s nature agency, which showed 88 red deer alongside the stretch of road on a single night.
NatureScot is working with Transport Scotland and Bear Scotland to use fixed and mobile electronic signs on a 15km stretch of the A9 from Lothbeg to Ord of Caithness from this weekend.
Drivers will be advised to slow down during the campaign, which will run from November 1 to November 29, with speed monitoring taking place before, during and after to evaluate the effectiveness of the signs.
In recent years, data has shown an increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions in the Navidale area. Other high-risk locations tend to be found in the central belt and are linked to the dispersal of young roe deer in the spring.
In contrast, the species of most concern at Navidale is red deer as they move from higher moorland to better pasture at lower altitudes in autumn.
Recent research commissioned by NatureScot found high numbers of deer frequently crossing the road from areas of cover on the hillside to more open grazing land on the coast side of the road. A thermal imaging survey picked up total of 88 different red deer along the stretch on one night alone.
Dominic Sargent, NatureScot deer policy officer, said: “At this time of year red deer stags in particular may be tempted to richer feeding grounds to recover following their rutting activity. At Navidale this results in them crossing the road. At the same time, the shorter days and the clocks going back in late October also mean that the times of peak traffic coincide with dawn and dusk when deer are often most active.
“Feedback from the local community and research on-the-ground is giving us a much better picture of deer movements in this area, which will help us as we continue to explore potential mitigation options, including considering wider deer management in the area.
“This campaign is an important reminder to drivers to be ‘deer aware’ on this stretch of road.”
Angus Corby, Transport Scotland landscape and biodiversity manager, said: “We continue to work closely with colleagues in NatureScot and our operating company contractors to assess the extent and impact of deer-vehicle collisions across Scotland’s trunk roads, and to determine where mitigation is most needed.
“This work is a vital part of the overall management of the network for the reliability of these strategic transport routes and the safety of those using them. It is also important for the welfare of the wild deer which are an intrinsic part of the landscape.
“The proposals at Navidale have been designed to remind drivers of the potential risks of deer crossing the road at this time of year, but will also provide valuable information about the impact of the mobile warning signs, helping to refine the options available to reduce future occurrences.”