Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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June 2, 2011

Deer-vehicle collisions most likely in W.Va.

By KATE COIL Bluefield Daily Telegraph

PRINCETON — With the weather getting hot and fawning season peaking, it is more likely motorists might encounter the unpleasant sight or smell of an animal carcass on the side of the road.

According to research done by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources,  the number of deer-road kills spikes between late April and early July, which coincides with fawning season. Still, the DNR reports most deer-vehicle related conditions occur in the fall during mating season between October and December.

Tom Camden, district manager for Department of Highways District 10, said motorists should report any animal remains they see in the roadway or on the side of the road to the DOH so the animal can be removed as soon as possible.

 Camden said the DOH prioritizes animal remains left in the middle of roadways since they can create hazards.

“Obviously, regardless of the circumstances behind how it happened, it is an unpleasant task for our crews,” Camden said. “If we receive a call that a deer is in the road, we prioritize that and try to get it as soon as possible. A carcass in the middle of the road is a traffic hazard. If the carcass is on the right-of-way or in the median, we try to get those soon as well since they can become traffic hazards as well.”

However, Camden said there is a limit to what the DOH can remove.

“If it’s too far out from the road, we can’t clean it up,” he said. “Then it is left up to the private property owner to clean up.”

It can be difficult to clean up animal remains, Camden said, especially ones that have been out for a period of time.

“We’ve had situations where the animal has been out in the road and the heat for so long we had to bring in special, heavy equipment to remove it,” Camden said. “It can take a lot of effort to clear these up. Then we also have to go through the proper channels to dispose of the animal.”

Camden said any citizen wishing to report an animal body in the roadway or right-of-way can call their local DOH Maintenance Headquarters at 304-487-5281. For carcasses left on Route 460 or Interstate 77, Camden said motorists should call the DOH Interstate Maintenance Office at 304-487-5280.

Wes Hinkle, a State Farm Insurance agent based in Princeton, said deer can do large amounts of damage to vehicles.

“You must take into consideration the population of any given state with the growing number of deer migration and population when calculating your odds of hitting a deer,” Hinkle said. “West Virginia has been ranked as the number one state where deer collisions are most likely.”

Hinkle said not to rely on devices that say they can help drivers avoid deer, such as deer whistles. According to Hinkle, if a collision is inevitable, drivers should avoid swerving on the road to prevent crossing the path of another vehicle or running off the road. Additionally, motorists are advised to use high beam lights to more accurately spot deer in roadways.

If a motorist strikes a deer while driving, Hinkle said they should contact their insurance agent as soon as possible as well as local law enforcement if severe injuries result. The local police or local DNR might need to be contacted as well in cases where the animal needs to be put down.

Hinkle said drivers should be aware of deer crossing signs as they are posted in areas where deer are most prominent. Deer are most active at dawn and dusk, primarily between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., which are also peak hours for deer-related collisions.

 Motorists are also advised that deer travel in herds so seeing one deer near the roads increases chances of seeing another.

According to State Farm Insurance, drivers in West Virginia have been ranked the most likely to be involved in deer-related accidents for four consecutive years. Odds of a driver in West Virginia striking a deer over the course of a year are 1 in 42. Virginia drivers only have a 1 in 102 chance of being involved in a deer-related collision.

The State Institute for Highway Safety said deer-related collisions cause around 200 fatalities each year in the U.S. and the average amount of property damage from a deer-related collision is around $3,100. State Farm said the likelihood of drivers being involved in deer-related accidents has gone up 21 percent in the past five years.

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