Archive for Friday, November 7, 2008
Area deer surveyed
November 7, 2008
Advertisement
Driving tips
The Kansas Highway Patrol urges motorists to be cautious of deer this fall. Deer-breeding season peaks between now and December, and law enforcement officers routinely investigate a large number of vehicle-deer crashes this time of year, according to the KHP.
They offer these tips:
¢ Intentionally look for deer - especially at dawn and dusk, which are peak movement times for deer and when visibility is low.
¢ Increase your following distance between vehicles.
¢ Drive at a modest speed, particularly on roads near woods, parks, streams or creeks.
¢ Watch for deer-crossing signs.
¢ Deer usually travel in groups. When one deer crosses the road, there may be others about to cross. Be prepared to stop for others darting into the road.
¢ Slow down when approaching deer standing near roads. They have a tendency to bolt, possibly onto the road. Use emergency flashers to warn oncoming drivers after you see deer near a road.
¢ Always wear your seat belt and use child safety seats when appropriate.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and a Kansas University environmental studies field class teamed up last week to survey the number of white-tailed deer in the Lawrence area.
Varying deer populations across the state have an impact on the number of vehicle-deer collisions, especially this month because it's deer mating season.
KDWP had been conducting a spotlight survey at 18 wildlife management areas across the state since 2002, said Lloyd Fox, big game program coordinator for KDWP. Using a specially modified pickup truck, Fox and other members of KDWP drive about 15 or 20 miles. When they spot a deer, they record data to add to a database designed to identify trends in Kansas deer populations.
Last week, Fox joined about 24 students at new locations, the KU Field Station and Ecological Reserve.
About 24 students from Bob Hagen's environmental studies class at KU participated in a three-night spotlight survey at those locations. "The students loved it; they had a lot of fun out there," Fox said.
Preliminary estimates put the deer population in that area at about 33 deer per square mile, said Hagen, lecturer for the environmental studies program and research associate for the Kansas Biological Survey.
The deer population also affects tree and plant species, as well as wildlife management efforts. Hagen said about 100 years ago, unregulated hunting wiped out deer in Kansas. Small populations gradually increased as wildlife conservation came into practice during the 20th century. In northeastern Kansas, however, deer were still rare 50 years ago, he said.
Hagen said Kansas became the last state, in 1965, in the Midwest to open a legal deer hunting season.
Hunting is what keeps white-tailed deer numbers down in the Clinton Wildlife Area, Fox said. There are about 20 deer per square mile there compared with about 200 in Shawnee Mission Park.
Fox said in about three or four years, the department will make a final report on white-tailed deer numbers. Meanwhile, Hagen's classes will examine the local deer numbers. Next week, the class will start work to learn how many deer are north of the Kansas River Valley and then set up experiments to learn what deer are actually doing to the environment and what they are eating, for example.
"The field station, for example, north of town has been in place since 1948, and there's no information on deer numbers," Hagen said. "Part of it is getting that basic information and trying to understand what the numbers are here."
More like this
- Deer survey planned 6 comments / October 31, 2008
- Kansans on the hunt to counter increasing dangers posed by deer February 7, 2005
- Drivers warned to watch for deer October 29, 2003
- Deer in the spotlights: KU to conduct census 1 comment / October 27, 2009
- Prime habitat for deer grows September 17, 2006
Top ads RSS
- Factory Outlet $1800/Mo. Starting Pay Its the holidays and we ...
- DERMATOLOGY Nurse Seeking LPN/MA for dermatology practice in Lawrence. Part-time ...
- Live On Site Manager- Self storage complex in Kansas City ...
- KU Institute for Educational Research
- Dance Coach Kansas Athletics, Inc. Responsible for 10 - 20 ...
Marketplace
Arts & Entertainment · Bars · Theatres · Restaurants · Coffeehouses · Libraries · Antiques · Services
- Police accuse 'victim' in Long John Silver's break-in of lying, committing crime himself November 11, 2009 · 8 comments
- Attorney for man who says he shot George Tiller won't present 'necessity' defense November 10, 2009 · 46 comments
- Jihadist threat underplayed November 11, 2009 · 36 comments
- Blog: Strippin' Ain't E-Z November 11, 2009 · 18 comments
- Statehouse Live: Kansas schools get A for academics in new report card November 11, 2009 · 5 comments
- Blog: When Will We Get Our First Snow? November 11, 2009 · 14 comments
- Mandatory service November 11, 2009 · 46 comments
- Lawrence man robbed at gunpoint, kidnapped November 10, 2009 · 33 comments
- Thanks, vets November 11, 2009 · 7 comments
- Free State chef serves lesson on nutrition November 11, 2009 · 4 comments
- KU's Learned Hall closed for several hours after early-morning mechanical problem November 11, 2009
- Food magazines seek niche November 11, 2009
- Code Talkers break silence November 11, 2009
- First blast on section of Kansas Turnpike river bridge scheduled for early Sunday afternoon November 10, 2009
- Former Kansas governor William Avery dies at age 98 November 5, 2009
- Traumatic childhood takes 20 years off life expectancy October 6, 2009
- Little Steps helps kids transition to public school November 1, 2009
- 'White Owl' held in jail in connection with protective order case November 9, 2009
- Shop Talk: Sale item brings back taste of Italy November 11, 2009
- Recipe for change: Film battles policies of industrial food giants November 11, 2009
7 November 2008
at 6:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
compmd (Anonymous) says…
“Area deer surveyed”I just imagine a guy walking up to deer going, “What do YOU think about proposition 2?”
7 November 2008
at 6:28 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
tangential_reasoners_anonymous (Anonymous) says…
Four out of five deer agree….
7 November 2008
at 7:17 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
jaywalker (Anonymous) says…
Ditto, compmd! I thought they were going to be asked what they thought of Obama's win.
7 November 2008
at 7:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…
Why not just have the mail carriers keep tabs like they do for pheasant head count for example? It would be cheaper.
7 November 2008
at 7:48 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
TomShewmon (Tom Shewmon) says…
Had a six pt. buck in our back yard this am…should I report him to the authorities?
7 November 2008
at 7:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
autie (Anonymous) says…
I thought this survey would be like OTS..pictures of deer and their comments..wrong again. With a question like, “What are your reading?” or “Do you prefer Perry or Clinton?”
7 November 2008
at 12:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
gr (Anonymous) says…
“Hunting is what keeps white-tailed deer numbers down in the Clinton Wildlife Area, Fox said.”Funny, I thought “hunting” is what is bringing wild pigs to the Clinton Wildlife Area.
7 November 2008
at 9:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…
Best headline EVER!!Autie, you took it one better, photos of the deer, hee hee.I expect I will remember this one forever..the year of deer and biscuits!
7 November 2008
at 9:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
Permalink
lance1jhawk (Anonymous) says…
I find them tasty!