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WHISE: The Wildlife Highway Institute for Safety and Economy
Sand County Foundation and the Wisconsin Departments of Transportation and Natural Resources brought together leaders in insurance, highway safety, highway management and engineering, landscape ecology, local government, law enforcement, and related fields, from the US and Canada in Milwaukee in April 2000 to map out a strategy for cutting the number and severity of deer-vehicle crashes (DVC's).
In October 2005, 65 people involved with or interested in the reduction of deer-vehicle crashes (DVC's) attended the “Deer-Vehicle Crash Reductions: Setting a Strategic Agenda” conference. The primary objective of this meeting was for the attendees to collaborate and brainstorm strategic agenda action items for DVC reduction research and data collection, funding, partnership building, and technology transfer and education.
Deer-Vehicle Crash Information and Research Center (DVCIR Center)Housed at the University of Wisconsin’s Midwest Regional University Transportation Center, the DVCIR Center and subsequent efforts have provided the impetus for increased awareness, better data gathering, more focused research, and the inclusion of landowners and hunters in sustainably reducing the frequency and severity of deer-vehicle crashes. More needs to be done
The number of deer-vehicle crashes around the country continues to grow. Conover et al. (1995) estimated over 1.5 million deer-vehicle crashes occur annually in the United States. Less than 50% of these collisions are reported. For reported accidents, the estimated damage to vehicles exceeds $1.1 billion and over 1.3 million deer are killed. Romin and Bissonette (1996) estimated that the value of a deer harvested by a hunter was $1,313. Applying this estimate to the number of deer killed that occur in the United States would result in an economic opportunity loss of over $1.7 billion annually.
In addition to these economic losses, deer-vehicle collisions alone result in over 29,000 human injuries and over 200 fatalities (Conover et al. 1995). And the numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. When Henry Ford was first turning out the Model T, only about 500,000 white tails were to be found in the entire U.S., according to the U.S. Biological Survey. In recent times, deer populations have increased from 29.8 million in 1994 to 32.7 million in 2001. Last year, hunters killed 7.4 million deer, drivers killed another 1.8 million, Tragically, DVCs kill more people in the U.S. than do all commercial airlines, train and bus accidents combined in a typical year.
Although state wildlife agencies and departments of transportation (DOTs) have initiated some research to evaluate techniques to reduce DVCs, no panaceas have been found. DOTs data suggests that animal-vehicle collisons have increased by 69% between 1985-1991. However, this data included only those collisions which were reported or occurred on state maintained highways; thus, the available data significantly underestimates the magnitude of the problem.
Meanwhile, a significant amount of money has been spent on the implementation and study of deer-vehicle crash (DVC) countermeasures in the last several decades, but their expected crash reduction effectiveness is still largely unknown. Many of the management provisions do not appear to work, but effectiveness is not well quantified. The complexity and interdisciplinary requirements of implementation and long-term study of the correct potential DVC countermeasure(s) in the appropriate locations has limited the usefulness and transferability of past studies. A need exists to create a focal point for the definition and implementation of DVC-related research.
Rigorous studies in Iowa and Michigan are testing conventional and electric fence, signs, reflectors, and other devices. Canada reports success with one- and two-sided fence, overpasses, reflectors, and odor repellants. A Michigan DVC coalition does public and driver education. Other safety-focused partnerships are effective in Florida and Colorado.
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