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HUNTING NOT THE REASON FOR NATIONAL INCREASE IN DEER-RELATED COLLISIONS |
STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES SAY HUNTING NOT THE REASON FOR NATIONAL INCREASE IN DEER-RELATED COLLISIONS
Washington, D.C. (October 20,
2006) —This week, the State Farm Insurance issued its annual report
showing that deer-related vehicle collisions have risen almost six percent –An
estimated 10,000 more collisions occurred since last fall. State fish and
wildlife agency experts say that hunting season is not to blame for the
increase in deer/car collisions in the fall, but rather a combination of both
natural and human-caused influences.
“It's a common misconception that deer are ‘flushed out of woods' by hunters,”
says Matt Hogan , Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies. “In fact, it's a series of both natural and human-causes that have
deer on the move.”
Some people mistakenly blame hunting for
the increase in deer activity in the fall, failing to realize that it would
occur regardless of hunter presence. Many state agency deer experts say deer
are on the move in the fall due to the following reasons:
Mating season —peak mating season for white-tailed deer—when deer are
actively searching their area for mates—occurs between October and early
December for most of the lower 48 states.
Shorter days and longer nights —white-tailed deer are most active at
dawn and dusk, a time of day associated with rush hour in fall and winter
months. People head to and from work around the time when deer are most
active.
Increased populations —nearly extinct 100 years ago, white-tailed
deer have made a comeback thanks to proper management, conservation and
regulations. In many states, deer have few natural predators, and are highly
adaptable to urban surroundings.
Habitat fragmentation —deer and people are living closer to each
other due to an increase in human populations and urban and rural development.
Since people and deer often share a habitat, deer have more limited natural
food sources, and move in search of new food and water sources. Deer
populations have greatly increased in relation to the habitat and food supply.
Cost of losing hunting — managing white-tailed deer populations
through hunting is an important step in reducing deer damage and protecting
the natural balance and diversity of wildlife communities. With habitat
fragmentation on the rise and changing land restrictions, there are fewer
places to hunt and fewer hunters to control populations.
According to a report released last year
by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Potential Costs of
Losing Hunting and Trapping as Management Practices, four percent of the
nation's 6.1 million auto accidents reported to the police—or 247,000
incidents—involved direct collisions with animals, as indicated by the Center
for Disease Control and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Deer are involved in 86.9 percent of injury cases. If hunting were lost as a
wildlife management tool, state wildlife agencies estimate an additional
50,000 injuries per year, and $3.8 billion in additional auto repair costs.
In their press release, State Farm's senior research analyst Melissa Miles
said, "While research has revealed several innovative ways to deter deer from
entering the roadways and alerting drivers to the dangers of deer in the area,
there will always remain a constant danger of deer-vehicle collisions.
Undoubtedly, the best way to avoid deer-vehicle collisions is through
attentive driving behavior."
If traveling at dawn, dusk or in the evenings, state fish and wildlife
agencies urge motorists to be vigilant. Drivers who encounter deer in the road
should slow to a stop and allow the deer to cross before continuing. Deer
usually travel in groups—where you see one, you'll likely see more.
For more specific information on deer and vehicle collisions, contact your
state's fish and wildlife agency. A complete listing can be found at
http://www.fishwildlife.org/where_us.html
For the complete report, Potential Costs of Losing Hunting and Trapping as
Management Practices, click to
http://www.fishwildlife.org/bearsbackyard.html