Citation

Feldhamer GA, Gates JE, Harman DM, Loranger AJ, Dixon KR. J. Wildl. Manage. 1986; 50(3): 497-503.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Wildlife Society, Publisher BioOne)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Locations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) along a 41.4-km section of Interstate 84 (I-84) right-of-way in Pike County, Pennsylvania, were determined by radio telemetry and spotlight surveys. Bucks crossed roads more often (P < 0.05) than does. Two of 22 radio-collared deer were killed by vehicles during the study period. Hourly telemetry fixes showed that deer movements were not oriented in any general pattern relative to a highway. During 36 spotlight surveys 2,045 deer sightings were made, of which 1,687 were on the I-84 right-of-way. More deer were on the right-of-way in fall than summer. Most of the 100 road-kills recorded during the study occurred in fall and winter. A 2.7-m deer-proof fence reduced the number of deer on the right-of-way compared to an alternative 2.2-m (Type 4) fence, but it was not effective in reducing the number of road-kills. There was no significant relationship (P > 0.05) between road-kills and highway direction, habitat, topography, or fence placement. However, deer were killed more often ≤0.48 km of an interchange. Management efforts to reduce the incidence of road-killed deer should address increasing the effectiveness of deer fence and decreasing the incentive for deer to enter the right-of-way.