Development and evaluation of devices designed to minimize deer-vehicle collisions : phase III.

Osborn, D.A.; Stickles, J.H.; Warren, R.J; Miller, K.V. · 2015 · ROSA P / Georgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Research

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Get this paper ↗ (full text — opens at the source; we link to it, we don't host it)

Summary

This report details Phase III of a multi-year study by the University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) aimed at minimizing deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs). Building on previous phases that evaluated visual and auditory deterrents, this phase focused on operational field trials of fencing and the analysis of deer movement patterns to assess collision risk. The research sought to determine the efficacy of retrofitting existing highway right-of-way (ROW) fences with outriggers and to identify temporal and spatial factors influencing DVC risk in Georgia. Researchers captured 32 white-tailed deer along a 5-mile segment of Interstate 20 near Madison, Georgia, fitting them with GPS collars to monitor ROW use. They analyzed 45,811 DVC records from 2005–2012 to map breeding activity peaks across Georgia’s counties. Additionally, they conducted an operational field trial where a 1.2-meter woven-wire fence was repaired and retrofitted with top-mounted outriggers on a 2.5-mile section of I-20. Deer movements, traffic volumes, and road-killed deer were monitored before and after fence installation to evaluate effectiveness and cost. The study found that deer ROW use peaked during nighttime hours (2200–0300), with increased activity by females in May and June likely due to parturition. Analysis of DVC data revealed high concurrence between peak collisions, conception, and rut movement, suggesting DVC records are a cost-effective proxy for mapping breeding seasons. Crucially, combining traffic volume with deer movement data indicated that DVC risk for individual motorists was high throughout the entire nocturnal period, not just during crepuscular hours as previously assumed. Regarding the fencing trial, the retrofitted outrigger fence failed to prevent access by three GPS-collared deer, who exploited small gaps under the fence. The retrofitting process was logistically complex and costly, with maintenance estimated at $59 per mile annually. The authors concluded that retrofitting existing ROW fences with outriggers is neither cost-efficient nor adequately effective, particularly in wooded areas where vegetation damages the structure. Instead, they recommended using 2.4-meter deer exclusion fences for new construction, potentially combined with outriggers to allow deer escape if they breach the primary barrier. To mitigate DVCs, the report suggests targeted removal of frequent ROW users, habitat modification to reduce roadside attraction, and issuing motorist warnings during late-night travel and peak breeding seasons. The findings emphasize that risk assessment must account for both deer crossing frequency and traffic volume to accurately identify high-risk periods and locations.

Key finding

Deer-vehicle collision risk for individual motorists is high throughout the entire nocturnal period, not just during crepuscular hours, due to the combination of peak deer road-crossing activity and low traffic volume.

Methodology

mixed_methods

Sample size: 32

Provenance

The full processing record for this entry. Every stage of this paper's journey through the pipeline is logged — what ran, with which tool and model, how many attempts it took, and when it last completed. Discovered via bulk_ingest_rosap on 2026-05-23 (6 acquisition events logged).

Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

Ranked by relevance to this paper. Hover a topic for its definition.

• rail grade crossings