West Cork councillors urge increased deer culling after crashes

West Cork councillors have called for a boost in deer culling, warning that motorists are being injured as the animals spread into more areas.

Cork County Council’s Western Division committee agreed to write to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) seeking action after reports of serious collisions and near‑misses.

Independent councillor Danny Collins said he had been contacted by a couple involved in a serious crash in Kerry earlier this month, where a woman had to be cut from the car and both occupants required hospital treatment. He noted that deer are an increasingly common sight on roads and the problem appears to be worsening each year.

Fianna Fáil councillor George Gill described a near miss last week when a deer jumped out in front of his vehicle, adding that he had seen several deer this year in areas where they were not traditionally common.

Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington supported further culling, recalling that the council had written to the NPWS about the issue last year and stating, “We can’t wait for somebody to get killed before we do something about it.”

Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin called for deer warning signs on the N71 at Newcourt, asking why signs could not be installed on both approaches to the bend. Director of services for roads and transportation Pádraig Barrett said requests for deer signs have been received from numerous areas across Co Cork and that the council is discussing deer movement patterns with the NPWS to identify where signs are needed, while cautioning that over‑signage could reduce effectiveness.

Councillors agreed that warning signs alone would not solve the wider problem, as deer are appearing in new locations, causing vehicle damage and putting road users at risk.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Benny Analog / Pexels.