Study

Intercept feeding as a means of reducing deer-vehicle collisions

  • Published source details Wood P. & Wolfe M.L. (1988) Intercept feeding as a means of reducing deer-vehicle collisions. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 16, 376-380.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Provide food/salt lick to divert mammals from roads or railways

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Provide food/salt lick to divert mammals from roads or railways

    A replicated, controlled study in 1985–1986 along three highways in Utah, USA (Wood & Wolfe 1988) found that intercept feeding reduced mule deer Odocoileus hemionus road deaths along two of three highways in one of two years. In the first year, the numbers of mule deer killed on road sections with intercept feeding (8–19 deer killed) were not significantly different to the numbers killed on those without (14–31). The following year, roads kills were lower on two highway sections with intercept feeding (with feeding: 34–38 deer killed; without: 59–89), but higher with feeding on the third (feeding: 31; without: 13). Feeding stations were closer to this third highway (0.4 km) than to the others (0.8–1.2 km). Road-kill deer were recorded along three highways, within 21–24-km-long sections. Highways were divided into a treatment (feed) and control (no-feed) section of equal length (8.3 or 9.6 km), separated by a shorter buffer zone (4.2 or 4.8 km). Treatment and control sections were swapped in the second year. There were four feeding stations/treatment section. Alfalfa hay, deer pellets and apple mash were provided 1–3 times/3 days from January to mid-March of 1985 and 1986.

    (Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)

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