Experience with deer reflectors

Published source details Pafko F. & Kovach B. (1996) Experience with deer reflectors. Proceedings of the Trends in Addressing Transportation Related Wildlife Mortality: Transportation Related Wildlife Mortality Seminar, FL-ER-58-96, Florida Department of Transportation,Tallahassee, Florida USA, 135-146.
Share Tweet Email

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Install wildlife warning reflectors along roads Action Link

Install wildlife warning reflectors along roads

A replicated, before-and-after study in 1980–1994 along 16 highways in Minnesota, USA (Pafko & Kovach 1996) found that reflectors reduced rural deer-vehicle collisions by 50–97%, but that collisions in suburban areas increased. Collisions were reduced by 90% along roads in the four coniferous forest areas (after installation: 2 collisions; before: 26), 79% along roads in the four ‘farmland’ areas (after installation: 9 collisions; before: 54) and 87% along roads in the four hardwood forest areas (after installation: 3 collisions; before: 25). However, collisions increased in four suburban areas (after installation: 4.4–7.3 collisions/year; before: 2.4–3.4). Swareflex brand red reflectors were installed along 16 highway sections through three different rural habitats and in a suburban area. Deer-vehicle collisions were monitored before (pre-1988) and after installation (1988–1994).

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)