Muntjac deer in CB6 3WU this week

[doggyvonne]

A muntjac deer was seen here in the new estate on the woodland edge of Ely City this week about 9.30 am. I believe it comes for the maturing shrubs and fruit planted 8 years ago by developers. So far I think we are only ones seen it but many times heard barking in the dark which is not typically dogs. My concern is that I think they may be coming across the busy A10 bypass for the fruit (no fencing at all on either side of A10). Should there be a sign up on the highway to warn of deer crossing?

[The_Doctor]

I don't know.
Muntjac are seen as an invasive species right and if found I think they should be reported and then probably killed. At least thats what you're supposed to do in Northern Ireland, not sure about anywhere else.
Also getting killed on the roads would help bring down their populations so you can appeal to the council in your area about it but seeing as their invasive they may not do much about it.

[RKB]

Muntjac are very common in Cambs and Suffolk. They are only about the size of a spaniel, so even if hit by a car they wont do much damage to it.

[Harold Smith]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

I don't know.
Muntjac are seen as an invasive species right and if found I think they should be reported and then probably killed. At least thats what you're supposed to do in Northern Ireland, not sure about anywhere else.
Also getting killed on the roads would help bring down their populations so you can appeal to the council in your area about it but seeing as their invasive they may not do much about it.

Originally Posted by RKB

Muntjac are very common in Cambs and Suffolk. They are only about the size of a spaniel, so even if hit by a car they wont do much damage to it.

Am I reading this correctly! Is it being suggested that Muntjac deer should be controlled by 'road kill'? In my view this is a terrible and dangerous view point. Yes, populations are increasing and in some areas Muntjac are becoming a destructive nuisance. If that is the case then humane controls should be brought in to reduce their numbers, even if it means hunters are used to cull them. I do not think having them run over on the A10 is very humane solution. Not all animals hit by vehicles are killed instantly. Some are badly injured and crawl away to die in terrible pain or are hit by more than one vehicle before they are killed.

If the Muntjac do regularly cross the A10 then the local authority should be persuaded to erect the deer crossing warning signs. The warning signs are not there for the safety of the deer but for the safety of the motorist. The Muntjac maybe the size of a spaniel but they are very solid animals, as is a spaniel, and can cause a great deal of damage to a car which could end in serious injury to the occupants, and at worst be fatal. Also, having an animal suddenly appearing in front of you, particularly at night, could cause a driver to panic and take evasive action resulting in a terrible accident.

We need to solve these problems sensibly and practically and avoid the knee-jerk reaction.

Harold.

[bigdave60dog]

They taste good but you need to bleed them soon after killing. They are good with provencale sauce.
I would not deliberately hunt for them as I like to see any deer about but we used to find them in fox snares. I don`t think that muntjac bark of a daytime but thye do loads of a night.
Dave

[RKB]

Originally Posted by Harold Smith

The Muntjac maybe the size of a spaniel but they are very solid animals, as is a spaniel, and can cause a great deal of damage to a car which could end in serious injury to the occupants, and at worst be fatal.

Hardly. How is a muntjac supposed to kill someone sat in a car? They barely reach above the bumper. As car bumpers are designed to take minor collisions a muntjac would literally bounce off the front. There's no way it would go over the bonnet and hit the windscreen. The very worse you could expect would be a broken light if you were unlucky.

Originally Posted by Harold Smith

Also, having an animal suddenly appearing in front of you, particularly at night, could cause a driver to panic and take evasive action resulting in a terrible accident.
.

That I do agree with, but the same could be said for foxes and hares, or badgers. As other deer are often in small (or large) groups and much larger animals, and muntjac are solitary and much smaller animals, I think it's a bit much to expect road signs warning of muntjac. They're probably best dealt with in the 'hare, fox, badger' bracket rather the 'roe, fallow deer' bracket.

[RKB]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

I don`t think that muntjac bark of a daytime
Dave

They do.

[healfdan]

Perhaps they should teach learner drivers that natural hazzards do occur on our roads and you cannot have a sign for every potential problem. As for Munjacs being small and therefore not seen as a threat to motorist I strongly disagree. On several occasions I have had the misfortune to encounter wildlife while driving. Twice pigeons and on another occasion a barn owl have flown into my windscreen and you instinctively, be it briefly close your eyes and put your hand across your face....very dangerous. Fortunately on each occasions my screen remained intact. Also had the misfortune to catch a badger in my headlights when driving at 50 MPH, hit my brakes just clipped the badger which ran off. Thankfully there was no other car behind me as I swerved to control my vehicle.
As for culling by road kills, I'm sure the idea would find a market; Culling by road kill an extreme sport for those people bored with shooting pheasants.
Healfdan

[wizzo]

I agree with Harold. Driving into a Badger at only 20 mph can be both shocking and highly dangerous....for both parties!

[RKB]

Originally Posted by wizzo

I agree with Harold. Driving into a Badger at only 20 mph can be both shocking and highly dangerous....for both parties!

But only if you panic and drive into a ditch! Harold Smith was saying that hitting a muntjac could be fatal due to the collision itself, like hitting a horse. Clearly that's wrong. Same with a Badger. If you keep your head it's only really dangerous for the animal. Fallow Deer are different, as they could end up through the windscreen.