Roe deer are one of Britain's most common deer species and road collisions cause significant mortality with welfare implications for the estimated 75,000 deer struck annually.
Deer struck by vehicles suffer acute traumatic injuries including broken limbs, internal bleeding, and spinal damage. Mortally wounded deer that escape from the road often die slowly in cover over hours. Drivers who hit deer but do not stop may leave animals to die in prolonged suffering. Roe deer fawns with their does killed by vehicles face starvation as they are too young to survive independently. Vehicle strikes causing non-fatal injury leave animals disabled and unable to feed effectively, leading to slow deterioration.