Roe, Killington -Tebay M6.

[camodog]

I travel north & south 2- 3 times each week through the 'Tebay Gap' along the M6. I used to see roe on the bankings, both sides on almost every journey. For many years this has been the case regardless of time of day or night. Over this last, maybe 18 mths, I have seen perhaps two or three.
This is simply a curious observation on my part, of no consequence really, but interested if anyone else has noticed a decline in numbers in this area. Not necessarily alongside the M-way, but maybe on ground adjacent ?

 

[JockStalk]

Tebay services venison sausages?

 

[Ronin]

The Estate ajacent the M6 and Killington Services is called Lillymere

It has a healthy population of Roe and have a stalker in place (I understand)

The ground is very pretty

 

[TringSaint]

We bought a couple of Valais from a breeder near Kirkby Stephen (which is pretty close to Tebay iirc) and he said that the ground held quite a lot of roe

 

[Happy stalker]

Only seeing a few deer if not none alongside any motorway can only be a good thing from a safety perspective.

 

[finnbear270]

Always used to see the odd Roebuck next to the armco Northbound opposite Lancaster uni.

 

[camodog]

The only obvious explanation I could consider is @ 2yrs ago there was quite intensive verge clearance undertaken. This removed much of the vegetation and perhaps displaced the relatively sedentary roe population into nearby ground. I stalk a few areas of ground adjacent and these still hold stable roe numbers.

 

[willie_gunn]

Not sure exactly where you mean, but as you go Northbound through the valley just approaching Tebay services haven’t they done a lot of tree planting on the upper slopes?

 

[Buchan]

Not sure exactly where you mean, but as you go Northbound through the valley just approaching Tebay services haven’t they done a lot of tree planting on the upper slopes?

Yes, lots

 

[JH83]

I stalk an estate close to there.

Plenty roe, some reds on the ground. Still good numbers of reds locally (despite best efforts of a few) and the very occasional sika hybrid after a wandering Bowland stag got into the reds.

 

[kieran222]

I travelled that route during Covid when public transport wasn't an option and had two close calls with roe deer on the Motorway. The roads were empty but the roe thought me to expect the unexpected

 

[scoby270]

Seen reds on the northbound side banking where the motorway splits before Tebay, early mornings on the way to Penrith.

S

 

[dryan]

Interesting, I saw roe heading northbound on the verges regularly 15 years ago now.

Have spread down through lancs into greater Manchester now and I understand parts of Cheshire too. Was a deer desert when I lived there apart for some reds up Macc area, still wonder if the herd on my old ground is still there.

 

[Sea trout]

I travel north & south 2- 3 times each week through the 'Tebay Gap' along the M6. I used to see roe on the bankings, both sides on almost every journey. For many years this has been the case regardless of time of day or night. Over this last, maybe 18 mths, I have seen perhaps two or three.
This is simply a curious observation on my part, of no consequence really, but interested if anyone else has noticed a decline in numbers in this area. Not necessarily alongside the M-way, but maybe on ground adjacent ?

I have noticed exactly the same

 

[RoyalRedStag]

The service station sells Venison haha