Effects of US 1 Project on Florida Key deer mortality

Published source details Parker I.D., Braden A.W., Lopez R.R., Silvy N.J., Davis D.S. & Owen C.B. (2008) Effects of US 1 Project on Florida Key deer mortality. Journal of Wildlife Management, 72, 354-359.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads Action Link

Install barrier fencing and underpasses along roads

A before-and-after study in 1996–2005 along a highway in Florida, USA (Parker et al. 2008; same experimental set-up as Braden et al. 2008 and Parker et al. 2011) found two underpasses with associated barrier fencing reduced vehicle collisions with Florida Key deer Odocoileus virginianus clavium. Fewer deer were killed on the fenced road section after underpass and fence installation (0–3/year) than before (11–20/year). There were more collisions on unfenced road sections after installation (40/year) than before (24/year), so collisions were not reduced overall. However, deer densities increased and the ratio of collisions to deer numbers suggested that risks of collisions decreased after construction. Deer use of two underpasses increased from the first year after construction (871 detections) to the second and third years (1,857 and 1,629 deer detections respectively). A 2.6-km-long system with two underpasses (dimensions not stated), 2.4-m-high fencing and four deer guards were constructed on US Highway 1. An infrared trail monitor and camera monitored deer passages at the centre of each underpass for three years post-construction (2003–2005). Deer-vehicle collisions were recorded (from 1996) from direct sightings, citizen and law enforcement reports and observations of vultures before (1996–2000) and after (2003–2005) fence and underpass construction.

(Summarised by: Rebecca K. Smith)