Date of Award:
5-1986
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Wildland Resources
Department name when degree awarded
Wildlife
Committee Chair(s)
Michael L. Wolfe
Committee
Michael L. Wolfe
Committee
Phil Urness
Committee
Barrie Gilbert
Committee
Carl Cheney
Abstract
Intercept feeding was tested for its efficacy in reducing deer-vehicle collision frequency by diverting deer movement patterns away from highways using alfalfa hay as an attractant. Ratios of roadkills in control vs. treatment zones of three highway segments indicated that feeding reduced collision frequency. Spotlighting counts of live deer were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the control than in the treatment zone, supporting the effectiveness of feeding in keeping deer distant from the highway. In a benefit:cost analysis, the benefits accrued by reducing collision frequency exceeded the costs of feeding on each highway both years, with one exception: in 1986 one of the highways demonstrated that particular features of an area may not be conducive to effectively attracting deer away from a highway. I recommend intercept feeding be used with alternate techniques, so that the most appropriate technique is applied in each situation to reduce collision risk.
Checksum
9a5b0cbe695d19df0f29313360d1958b
Recommended Citation
Wood, Peggy, "Intercept Feeding as a Means of Reducing Deer-Vehicle Collisions" (1986). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 6444.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6444
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