Study: Deer-vehicle crash effect underestimated

[MuleyMadness]

Study: Deer-vehicle crash effect underestimated
November 26th, 2010 @ 11:04am
By Associated Press
LOGAN, Utah (AP) -- A five-year study on the effects of winter feeding on mule deer suggests that wildlife experts may underestimate the effect of deer-vehicle collisions on herd productivity.

The national study by the Utah State University-based Jack H. Berryman Institute shows a rise in the number of deer-vehicle crashes.

Also increasing are the number of human deaths or injuries in those crashes.

Logan's Herald Journal reported Friday that the federal institute also found that more people die in head-on collisions with deer than with any other wildlife species.

USU Cooperative Extension wildlife specialist Terry Messmer says the study followed 100 radio-collared mule deer.

It found that 30 percent of deer mortalities were from vehicle crashes.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

[stillhunterman]

Yep, no doubt vehicles kill a lot of deer. There are numbers floating around from 3000 to 20,000 a year prior to this study. Since it took place in the Cache Valley area, it makes perfect sense with all the roads criss crossing there. Even down through Utah County I can see it, but not much farther south where population (human) levels and traffic decreases.

This study just shows how much vehicles can effect our deer herds....something to think hard about.

[firefighterbraun]

Just this year going through Nephi Canyon, every week there have been a couple deer hit. 5 bucks since August and then a handful of does.....and that's just been the times that I have been driving through the canyon and seen them. Heard of a lot more though. Sucks for both the deer and the drivers. I know that I have been called out on multiple wrecks involving deer. For me it seems that all the deer wait for the cars to come and then cross! Lol

[Snake River Marksman]

Back in Maryland where I grew up, we killed way more deer in vehicle vs deer accidents than we did through the whole of hunting season. There are just so many roads, cars, and deer there that it's just inevitable.
Last week I nearly got a doe as she crossed the road. She was being chased by a buck and there was another doe with them as well. I nearly plowed into the back of a pickup two weeks ago TWICE! The first time a moose crossed in front of him and then shortly there after a deer crossed in front of the car ahead of him, and caused all of us to slam on the binders. Always fun driving at dawn and dusk!

[derekp1999]

I've been surprised by the number of deer I've seen piled up on the side of the road, especially shocked at the number of deer killed on I-15 and Legacy Highway in southern Davis County (one or two per week... even in the summer). I had a cow elk tag for one of the Cache units and saw a half dozen carcasses just yesterday in Sardine Canyon. I wish we had a better way to control this whether it be deer fences, "underpasses," crossing area signs, etc.

[stillhunterman]

I've been surprised by the number of deer I've seen piled up on the side of the road, especially shocked at the number of deer killed on I-15 and Legacy Highway in southern Davis County (one or two per week... even in the summer). I had a cow elk tag for one of the Cache units and saw a half dozen carcasses just yesterday in Sardine Canyon. I wish we had a better way to control this whether it be deer fences, "underpasses," crossing area signs, etc.

Agreed. Wish there was a better way to keep this from happening so often. All of the fences, overpass/underpass, etc. ideas work ok, but are sooooo expensive. The deer will find a way across sooner or later. I guess we all just need to SLOW down when driving in these areas, but dang, how can you do that on I-15 and other such roads?! Too bad....