Drivers on the A9 are being urged to slow down and stay alert as a new road safety campaign expands efforts to prevent deer collisions in the Highlands.
NatureScot, Transport Scotland and BEAR Scotland are joining forces to raise awareness of the dangers posed by deer crossing the road between Lothbeg and Ord of Caithness.
The month-long campaign begins this weekend and will run from November 1 to November 29, using a combination of fixed and mobile electronic signs to warn drivers along a 15km stretch of the road.
Speed monitoring will take place before, during and after the campaign to measure the impact of the signs and driver behaviour.
The expanded initiative follows feedback from local communities and new research showing a rise in deer-vehicle collisions in the Navidale area.
While many collision hotspots are found in the Central Belt, linked to young roe deer dispersing in spring, the risk around Navidale comes from red deer moving down from higher moorland to better grazing at lower levels during autumn.
A recent thermal imaging survey commissioned by NatureScot recorded 88 red deer crossing the A9 in one night alone.
NatureScot Deer Policy Officer Dominic Sargent said the findings highlight why drivers must be extra cautious at this time of year.
“Red deer stags are often tempted to richer feeding grounds after the rutting season,” he said.
“At the same time, shorter days and darker evenings mean peak traffic coincides with the times when deer are most active.”
He added that community feedback and field research are giving authorities a clearer picture of deer movement in the area.
“This helps us consider longer-term solutions,” he said, “including wider deer management.
“But for now, the key message is for drivers to be deer aware.”
Transport Scotland’s Landscape and Biodiversity Manager, Angus Corby, said the project was vital for both road safety and animal welfare.
“We’re working closely with NatureScot and BEAR Scotland to assess the scale of deer-vehicle collisions across Scotland’s trunk roads,” he said.
“This work ensures we can target mitigation where it’s needed most.”
He added that the Navidale proposals are designed not only to warn drivers but also to gather valuable data on how effective the signs are in reducing collisions.
“This will help us refine future options to improve safety and protect Scotland’s wild deer, which remain an important part of the landscape,” he said.
With darker mornings and evenings now setting in, motorists are reminded to take extra care, slow down, use full beams when safe, and stay alert for sudden movement at the roadside.
