Bags of help to cut down Cannock Chase deer deaths

White canvas bags are being attached to wooden posts along the Penkridge Bank Road in the hope they will deter deer from crossing the road, and thus avoiding accidents with traffic.

It is thought that the bags fluttering in the wind mimics the white rumps of the deer, causing them to react and preventing them from crossing the road.

Research from the United States has shown that when the bags are used instead of the usual red reflectors, deer-related vehicle collisions dropped by a third.

Last year in Cannock Chase there 167 deer-related collisions and the rangers will compare collision figures on a monthly basis along the Penkridge Bank Road, where deer accidents are most common.

County councillor Mark Winnington, the cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "Although we encourage motorists to drive carefully along Cannock Chase, the number of deer-related collisions is still too high. At the very worst, these collisions can be fatal, both for the deer and for the driver.

"If not fatal, they can certainly cause a lot of damage and distress to all concerned. My hope is that this trial will be as successful as it has been in America, and reduce these sorts of collisions on Staffordshire's roads."

Ian Skelton, the chairman of The Midlands, Wales and Marches Branch of the British Deer Society, added: "We supplied a number of Wildlife Reflectors during the 1990's and are keen, with the help of the rangers to monitor the use of white bags to determine their effectiveness. If the findings are the same or similar to the ones in the US then this will prove a more cost effective deterrent in reducing deer vehicle collisions.

Deer-vehicle collision researcher Dr Jochen Langbein said he was looking forward 'to seeing the results from this trial', adding: "The nature of a deer's vision makes their eyes relatively poor at distinguishing the colour red used in most wildlife reflectors. Deer's vision is much better at the blue end of the spectrum, whereas white tail flashes are a well-known warning signal among deer."

Deer-related vehicle collisions can result in serious injury and death, both for the deer and vehicle occupants. The Deer Initiative also estimates that more than 14,000 vehicles in the UK will incur significant damage as a result of collisions.