It may have been displaced by vast new housing estates
Frightened deer in St Thomas, Exeter(Image: Darren Murch)
A deer seen running near traffic in a busy Exeter neighbourhood may have been displaced by new housing estates being built on the edge of the city.
The confused animal was seen galloping near West Exe School in St Thomas on Monday, May 4. A photo taken by a resident shows it resting near a fence.
Reports on social media say it has also been spotted on Cowick Barton playing fields. Posts on Facebook urge dog walkers to be extra vigilant.
Huge housing estates are currently being built on land in nearby Alphington, Matford and out towards Exminster. The area was previously farmland and it was not unusual to see the creatures come down from Haldon and higher St Thomas.
The scale of the housebuilding has led some residents to conclude the deer are being displaced as their habitat shrinks.
Deer move over large distances during their lives and require quiet wildlife-rich refuges and corridors that give safe places for them to feed, move and rest.
One poster said: “This makes me sad, such a beauty, so much building going on everywhere it’s driving poor animals into the city.”
Another added: “All the houses being built on their habitat, poor thing.”
A third posted: “They are so confused with the bloody new build going on. Being driven elsewhere as don’t understand.”
One resident said they had informed the RSPCA but catching a healthy animal might cause it more trauma.
There have been previous sightings of deer in the area. In 2023 a panicking deer was seen in Alphington.
Devon Wildlife Trust has previously said that inappropriate development can harm natural heritage, but well-considered planning has the potential to protect and enhance our environment.
It proposes a Nature Recovery Network which provides large areas and connected corridors of wildlife-rich habitats such as woodlands to ensure wildlife can thrive alongside people.