Rescuers calls for better protection of deer

A Shropshire wildlife rescue is calling for deer to be better protected and has urged landowners to properly maintain their fences.

Cuan Wildlife Rescue, in Much Wenlock, said in 2025 it had seen a "significant increase" in deer admissions - taking in 94 of the animals across the year.

It said 45 of those had been hit by cars and 24 had been caught in fences or other foreign objects.

"It is clear where there are high populations of deer and where more needs to be done to prevent accidents from happening, before not only deer are seriously injured but also people too," it said in a Facebook post.

Maps detailing where the deer had been found showed a high number in and around Telford and its surrounding areas including Lightmoor, Horsehay and Buildwas.

Several incidents also happened in and around Bridgnorth, Church Stretton and the Black Country.

According to the AA, as many as 74,000 deer are killed or injured in collisions on the roads every year, and more than 400 car occupants are injured in accidents with deer.

More than half of the deer involved in the incidents Cuan was called to were fallow deer, followed by muntjac.

"Many deer that have been caught in fences have tried to jump over and got their legs stuck between the layers of barbed wire," the rescue said.

It said this had resulted in euthanasia being the "kindest and only option" in many cases.

"If you have wire fences please keep them maintained, having as few layers of wire as possible and so they cannot get their limbs stuck in it."

It added that in 2026 it had already attended five incidents - three deer that had been hit by cars and two caught in fences.

The British Deer Society said people should ensure that temporary fencing, netting, and similar materials were prevented from becoming a hazard to wildlife.

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