Mule Deer-Highway Mortality in Northeastern Utah: Causes, Patterns, and a New Mitigative Technique

Collisions between deer (Odocoileus spp.) and vehicles have resulted in considerable human, economic, and environmental losses. Romin and Bissonette (1996) estimated that at least 538,000 deer were killed along highways nationwide during 1991. Deer-vehicle encounters are likely to increase as roads are upgraded and expanded through areas of active deer use. This paper reports on the increased levels of deer-vehicle accidents that resulted from highway realignments associated with the construction of a municipal reservoir in northeastern Utah. The study began in October 1991; results obtained through November 1995 are presented. The focus is on the spatial distribution of deer-vehicle accidents with respect to vegetative and topographic features adjacent to the highways. The observed kill patterns were used to determine placement of newly-designed highway crosswalks. The effectiveness of the crosswalks at reducing deer-vehicle accidents and maintaining migratory movements of the local mule deer (O. hemionus) population is discussed. Design modifications are provided that may increase the utility of the crosswalk system.