Muntjac deer found dead on side of road with plastic bag over its head

The dangers of discarded plastics to the environment have been brought sharply into focus following the death of a deer on a road outside Newark.

The ill-fated creature’s head is thought to have accidentally become masked by a plastic bag and, unable to see, appears to have wandered into the street before being knocked over by a passing vehicle.

The muntjac deer was first reported to Newark and Sherwood District Council’s waste management team as a dead donkey lying at the side of Bowbridge Road, Middlebeck.

When council workers went to investigate they found the deer, which had a swollen belly and may have been pregnant, with its neck broken and a plastic bag covering its head.

The issues caused by street litter, including discarded plastics, and fly-tipping are being highlighted in the district council’s Cleaner, Safer and Greener campaign.

Council leader David Lloyd said: “This was a totally avoidable tragedy which demonstrates the ultimate consequences of somebody just dumping a cheap carrier bag and having absolutely no regard for what harm it could cause to wildlife or the environment.

“It appears that this poor creature inadvertently got its head stuck in the carrier bag and was unable to break free.

"Its vision would have been severely impaired and regrettably it may have strayed into the road where it met its end.

"Quite simply had that bag not been dumped then the deer would almost certainly still be alive.

“This illustrates the importance of the council’s Cleaner, Safer and Greener campaign which is highlighting the scourge of litter in our district and encouraging everybody to take responsibility for disposing of their rubbish properly.”

Plastic bags take many years to degrade.

The council said many thousands of animals and marine life die each year as a consequence of irresponsibly discarded plastic bags.

Animals can unwittingly climb inside plastic bags and suffocate, or attempt to eat them and choke. Instead, to spare wildlife an untimely end, they can be recycled responsibly by simply tying a knot in the top of bag and placed in a bin.

Fines of up to £2,500 can be imposed at the magistrates’ court and an authorised officer can demand the name and address of any person who is suspected of dropping litter on the street.

It is a further offence to fail to give that information or to give a false name and address.

The authorised officer can issue a fixed penalty ticket of not less than £75 to anyone suspected of dropping litter, which includes cigarette ends and chewing gum.

If you, your parish council, school or local community group would like to organise a voluntary litter picking event in your area, the council can support you by providing bags for the collection of litter and will collect these afterwards.

Call the district council on 01636 650000 for further advice or go to www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/wasteandrecycling/organiseacommunitylitterpick/