Protect Deer at Cannock Chase, Off Road Bikes Seized in Burslem

Feeding deer makes them vulnerable to disease, poaching and overpopulation, so rangers on Cannock Chase are urging country park users to stop.

Over the years, countryside officers have seen a rise in members of the public feeding the deer roaming around Cannock Chase, which puts the deer at risk of death, disease and dependency on humans.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture, Victoria Wilson, said: “Feeding deer makes them less wild by making them reliant on easy food and more approachable to humans, making them a target for poachers.

“It also leads to more deer vehicle collisions and speeds up their metabolism unnaturally leading to upset stomachs, dehydration and even death.

“Please help us to protect these iconic animals of Cannock Chase by not feeding or approaching them and keeping dogs away from them. The natural vegetation provides the deer with all the food and nutrients they need to thrive.”

With Spring fast approaching, people may encounter baby deer huddled in the grass. If you do spot a fawn, please do not attempt to pick it up because its mother may smell you and abandon the baby deer as a result. If you hit a deer or see one injured on the roadside, please call Staffordshire Police on 999. If a deer is dead on the roadside verge, please call 101. A deer warden will be notified in both cases.

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Off-road bikes are being seized by Staffordshire Police as they continue to crackdown on anti-social behaviour in Stoke-on-Trent.
Officers are working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council to target riders who damage public green spaces and put the public at risk through vehicle-related ASB.
At 9.45, on the evening of Tuesday 20 February, a stolen bike was seized in Burslem Cemetery. The vehicle is believed to have been involved in previous incidents of antisocial behavior in the area.  Two teenage boys have since been referred to Youth Offending Services.