Strieter-Lite® reflectors to dramatically reduce Deer Vehicle Accident

Strieter-Lite® reflectors to dramatically reduce Deer Vehicle Accident and other non-lethal way to co-exist with urban wildlife

The Problem

Every year deer-vehicle collisions take a huge toll in lives, money and time.

Last year there were: 1

    * An estimated actual 1,500,000 deer-vehicle collisions.
    * Over 110 deaths and tens of thousands of injuries.
    * Over $1.2 billion in property damage.
    * Escalating insurance premiums.
    * Increasing carcass removal costs.
    * Increasing accident investigation costs.

1. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

 In a report published in September, 2009, State Farm indicated that the deer-vehicle collision frequency across the United States has jumped 18% in the last five years!  To put it another way, one of these unfortunate encounters occurs every 26 seconds (although they are much more likely during the last three months of the year and in the early evening).  The average property damage cost of these incidents was $3,050, up 3.4 percent from a year ago.

The report includes a U.S. map showing the percentage increase in each state.  For example, California (22%), Oregon (9%), Washington (19%), Colorado (19%), Nebraska (54%), Iowa (17%), Minnesota (9%), Illinois (3%), Michigan (14%), New York (28%), North Carolina (33%), Florida (38%), Alabama (16%), Texas (33%).
But there is a solution . . .
http://www.strieter-lite.com/sites.html

From Cayuga Heights Website.

For example, there are roadside reflector technologies such as the Streiter-lite system, which uses reflected light from the headlights of oncoming cars to alert deer. This system has been installed in numerous locations around the world. Its effectiveness in reducing deer-vehicle collisions has been studied, showing results of 78-90% (see graph at right which shows accident rates before and after installation of reflectors).9


There is a Strieter-lite system installation in Owego, New York, just 30 miles South of Ithaca. According to the Owego traffic engineer, the reduction of deer-vehicle collisions has been high, nearly 100%.10 The cost of installing this system may also be reduced by federal grant support.11



Another promising technology, the Roadside Animal Detection System (RADS), takes a different approach. RADS uses radio sensors to detect large animals approaching a roadway. If an animal gets too near a road, the sensor activates a warning signal, alerting drivers to be cautious and slow down. One study in Switzerland found that such animal detection systems produced a reduction in collisions of up to 82 percent.12




Fencing is another proven alternative which can be used on its own or in combination with the options shown above. According to several studies, wildlife fencing, if used correctly, has the documented potential to reduce deer-vehicle collsions dramatically. One study in Banff, Alberta, for example, showed that fencings systems reduced collisions by 80%.13
There is also data suggesting that vehicle speed is correlated with the rate of deer-vehicle collisions, so more strict enforcement of the speed limit may be helpful. Community education programs that teach drivers how to drive more safely and avoid deer-vehicle collisions could further contribute to a reduction of collision risk.
Each of these alternatives to a bait and shoot program offers a documented potential to significantly reduce the risk of deer-vehicle collsions, and without negative side-effects, including the safety risks associated with the annual discharge of weapons in a densely settled community. Mayor Gilmore has spoken at a public meeting of allocating initial funding of $50,000 to a deer killing program. And as outside experts who have spoken at meetings have confirmed, a bait and shoot program is not a one-time solution, but rather a yearly endeavor.14 Thus, the public safety risks, the cost to tax payers, and the moral weight of killing human-habituated deer would continue to accrue year after year.
We can do better. Resources invested in sensible, nonviolent alternatives are a far better investment as they will provide immediate results, and will continue to offer value to the community for years to come.

http://www.cayugadeer.org/alternatives.htm

Deer Contraception WORKS and IT WORKS WELL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cBxVySosLk

According to Dr. Jay Kirkpatrick, deer contraception expert, who explains the startling successes in deer contraception, its authorization for use and availability. Dr. Kirkpatrick is the founder and Director of the Science and
Conservation Center, Montana. He has worked with
contraception on 90 species of animals, including wild horses, several species of deer, African elephants and water buffalo .

For more information, please visit: www.pzpinfo.org

Wildlife Contraception Response to DNRE Supervisor
http://mathew5-7.blogspot.com/2010/10/wildlife-contraception-response-to-dnre.html




http://www.triorganics.com/g/Deer_resistant_garden?gclid=CIXTkNe0s6YCFQty5QodXCLQnQ



http://www.amazon.com/Wild-Neighbors-Humane-Approach-Wildlife/dp/1555913091



Humane Alternatives
http://www.netandboltcruelty.net/humane.htm

Overall the hunting industry wants to ignore all humane solution to "deal" with deer because they want to continue to make the public believe that hunting is the "only" solution when in fact hunting is the problem.

Same with our bear


How to co-exist with bears peacefully and also there is a section on bear birth control ( wildlife contraception. )
http://www.bearsmart.com/