Spring Break
Where there's a deer, collisions often follow
Andrew Smith
Issue date: 2/20/06 Section: News
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In Pennsylvania alone 34 vehicle collisions involving deer occur each day, and the number of deer/car accidents increases annually. The deer overpopulation predicament affects most of the United States. Nationwide, white-tailed deer have become the nation's most dangerous animal, causing car accidents and killing an average of one hundred twenty citizens every year. Deer/car accidents also have become an immense financial burden. The average dear/car collision costs $4,500, including car repair, missed work and medical bills.
Ironically, one of the contributing factors to the deer overpopulation is deer hunting. Most often the strong and mature males are hunted. The female deer, or doe, are not hunted as frequently. Louis S. Warren, of Yale University Press, claims that, "Pennsylvania has become a virtual "baby factory" for deer. With proportionately fewer does being taken from the ecosystems of Pennsylvania, the reproductive capacities of deer herds increase. The other contributing factor is the excessive hunting of animals that naturally prey on deer. During the colonial period, wolves and mountain lions were exterminated as a threat to humans and livestock. This leaves coyotes and bobcats, which prefer young deer and avoid adults. Compounding the problem, hunting both coyotes and bobcats is still permitted in Pennsylvania and other surrounding states.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, most deer/car collisions happen during hunting season. Fortunately hunting season for us is over, but the threat is still impending. The Insurance Information Institute inc. devised a list of tips to avoid deer/car collisions.
? Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
? Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.
Ironically, one of the contributing factors to the deer overpopulation is deer hunting. Most often the strong and mature males are hunted. The female deer, or doe, are not hunted as frequently. Louis S. Warren, of Yale University Press, claims that, "Pennsylvania has become a virtual "baby factory" for deer. With proportionately fewer does being taken from the ecosystems of Pennsylvania, the reproductive capacities of deer herds increase. The other contributing factor is the excessive hunting of animals that naturally prey on deer. During the colonial period, wolves and mountain lions were exterminated as a threat to humans and livestock. This leaves coyotes and bobcats, which prefer young deer and avoid adults. Compounding the problem, hunting both coyotes and bobcats is still permitted in Pennsylvania and other surrounding states.
According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, most deer/car collisions happen during hunting season. Fortunately hunting season for us is over, but the threat is still impending. The Insurance Information Institute inc. devised a list of tips to avoid deer/car collisions.
? Be especially attentive from sunset to midnight and during the hours shortly before and after sunrise. These are the highest risk times for deer-vehicle collisions.
? Drive with caution when moving through deer-crossing zones, in areas known to have a large deer population and in areas where roads divide agricultural fields from forestland. Deer seldom run alone. If you see one deer, others may be nearby.