Who Lives Here Anyway?

October 30, 1998

Greensboro, NC: Autumn is a time of year that many law enforcement officers and insurance companies dread. While people drive along enjoying the scenic vistas of fall foliage, deer scamper across roads, many times with no regard to traffic. The resulting collisions result in several deaths and injuries each year.

"Because food is more scarce in autumn, and deer are being pressed out of their habitat by hunters, this time of year typically brings with it a higher number of deer-vehicle accidents," said Dr. Bob Williamson, a former urban research wildlife
biologist who now works as a natural resources specialist with the North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program.

Seasonal influences aren't the only factors increasing the likeliness of deer vehicle accidents. Increasing urbanization and a growing deer population also contribute to the year-round increased incidence of this type of accident, says Williamson.

"Without a doubt, the number of deer-vehicle crashes on rural and
urban roads is rising," said Williamson. "In places where there are more people, more roads and more deer than ever before, you are going to get more deer-vehicle accidents."

According to Dr. Donald Reinfurt, deputy director of the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, the number of reported vehicle accidents involving wildlife rose more than 12 percent between 1995 and 1996, from 9,400 to 10,671.

Part of the reason for the increased incidence is the state's growing deer population, which, according to Williamson, is due in part to fewer natural predators and changes in habitat.

"Long before humans began influencing forests, deer populations were kept in check by natural predators," said Williamson. "As habitat disappears in place of development, deer's natural predators begin to disappear, and as their population grows, they start looking for other places to live."

Williamson says that deer, like other species of wildlife, are closely tied to habitat diversity, and need the four basic habitat requirements of food, water, space and shelter to survive. When these requirements aren't met, wildlife move on in search of a more suitable environment.

"Many cities have large, diverse tracts of forests, parks, and connecting wooded corridors," said Williamson. "Because, unlike humans, deer do not distinguish between urban and rural forests, they move closer to human populations in their search for appropriate habitat."

It's then that accidents occur.

"Deer are moving into areas that they aren't familiar with and running
across roads to escape whatever frightens them, such as the roar of chains saws, the groans of earth movers, constant hammering, and even packs of free roaming dogs," said Williamson. "Until we understand that we are the major cause of the displacement of deer and take steps to rectify the problem, we'll continue to have problems with deer-vehicle accidents."

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For more information, contact Dr. Bob Williamson, NC A&T Cooperative Extension Program, (336) 334-7956.