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Experts offer ways to handle deer wrecks
Online Exclusive
By: David Crow, Staff Writer
Posted: 12/5/07
Deer collisions make up 90 percent of the 15,000 animal car crashes every
year in North Carolina, according to the Department of Transportation. These
accidents spike annually between the months of October and December.
"I get called every time there is one, if the deer is still alive," said Kindra
Mammone, executive director of Creative Learning About Wildlife Species. Mammone
is licensed by the state Wildlife Resources Commission to rehabilitate usually
young, injured deer in Orange County.
"Most of the time it's adults we can't help, but I can get officers out there
who can help them," she said.
Mammone suggests finding out if the deer is stunned or injured and needs to be
moved if it is hit by a car. But she warned against moving the deer yourself
because it is illegal.
"I once watched a guy do this and then watched an officer drive up and give him
a ticket," Mammone said.
CLAWS is the only organization in the area that works directly with the Wildlife
Commission, but local law enforcement also assists in procedures involving
injured deer.
"We can do whatever is best for the deer - whether that be humane euthanasia or
the transfer of the deer to a licensed rehabilitator," Orange County Animal
Services Director Bob Marotto said, referring to handling deer collisions,
particularly in the current season.
Marotto notes that the rise in deer accidents during the late fall months is
because of white-tailed deer mating practices.
Evin Stanford, Wildlife Resources Commission Surveys and Research deer
biologist, said that in addition to mating season, cooler temperatures and
earlier hours for dawn and dusk also contribute to the seasonal rise in deer
wrecks.
"Individual drivers should be cautious at dawn and dusk, which are the times
deer are most active," Stanford said. "Keep your speed within the speed limit,
and if you're driving in agricultural areas, it might be wise to reduce your
speed."
Deer wrecks have increased steadily since the late 1990s. But in recent years,
the number of deer-related accidents has stabilized.
"It seems to be driven by human related factors. … Basically human and deer are
living in the same environment," Stanford said.
The correlation between the expansion of human population in areas and the
decrease in deer herd populations during the mid to late 1990s are at almost a
one-to-one ratio, Stanford said.
"We've done a pretty good job of stabilizing these deer populations, but the
problem is in these urban and suburban areas where we've lost using hunting,"
Stanford said.
In an attempt to decrease deer "nuisance" populations in these areas, the DOT
suggested erecting fences around highways. But that was rejected because it
constricts deer movement too much, Stanford said.
The state Wildlife Resources Commission proposed a new hunting schedule that
could be implemented as early as this January, pending individual city approval.
The schedule, which would run from January to February, would only be open to
individuals using archery as a means of hunting.
"It would reduce deer nuisance problems," Stanford said.
So far the towns of Elkin and Washington have implemented the new hunting
season. But Washington is only allowing hunting to occur on its airport
property.
But some people think there is a better way to approach the deer problem.
"People are overpopulating the area, and if you want to live in the forest, you
have to learn to live with the wildlife, as they have to learn to live with us,"
Mammone said.
"The fact is that we are taking over their habitat -I think we should be as
accommodating as possible."
To avoid hitting a deer, experts recommend following these tips:
n?When driving in areas known with deer crossings or in agricultural areas drive
defensively within the speed limit, particularly at dawn and dusk.
n?Use high beams when possible and be watchful of shining deer eyes on the side
of the road. If you see one deer, chances are there are more.
n?If you hit a deer in the area call 911 first if there is any human injury.
n?Check to see if the deer is simply stunned or actually injured.
n?If the deer is injured and not dead, immediately call CLAWS at 619-0776.
n?Afterward (or if the deer is dead) call local law enforcement.
n?Do not try to move deer or drive it to help, alive or dead. It is considered a
crime known as hunting without a license.
Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.
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