SASKATCHEWAN NEWS: 11,193 deer-vehicle accidents in 2005

Regina and Saskatoon drivers need to slow down and save a buck.

Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF), said the highest number of vehicle-deer collisions occur near the two cities. "You can probably draw a circle 40 miles around both of those centres and that will be your highest collision area," Crabbe said Tuesday.

This is due to a combination of increased traffic and a high deer population in the two areas. Crabbe said the deer have climatized to the region and, combined with very little hunting pressure on the animals, that has resulted in an increased deer population.

Although the SWF is concerned with saving the animals from danger, the Slow Down and Save a Buck campaign is aimed at saving human lives.

"It is the human life and human injury that we are trying to eliminate," said Crabbe.
Last year three people lost their lives in collisions with deer and another 205 were injured. There was a reported 11,193 vehicle collisions with deer in 2005, up from 8,055 in 2000. SGI paid out more than $28 million in claims last year alone.

IOWA NEWS: Too many deer in Ames

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Ames homeowners said they want the City Council to allow deer hunting within the city limits. An aerial count earlier this year found large numbers of deer in residential areas. Homeowners said they are getting tired of watching the animals destroy their back yards.

Debbie Gitchell said she watched deer eat away all the shrubs and plants in her back yard. Now, she fills her flowerbeds with plants that deer won't find tempting to eat.
"One in particular is bleeding heart. It's a native woodland plant in Iowa and it's poison to the deer, so I just keep planting bleeding heart," Gitchell said.

Gitchell said deer generally find plenty to eat in a nearby park during the summer and don't venture into her neighborhood. Deer can still be spotted early in the morning or late evening hours and especially in the winter.

"I think when you first see these specimens of wildlife in your yard it's, 'Oh, is that wonderful,' but they do bring with them some definite negatives," Gitchell said.
Gitchell and other residents are recommending a bow-hunting season within the city to bring the deep population down.

She said the population has grown so large it's becoming dangerous to people in the community. "We have a few deer that had … entered into homes when they were spooked or startled and broke into deck windows, so again, that's a human health and safety issue," Lavender said.

The Ames City Council is not expected to take any action on this issue Tuesday night.
Several other Iowa communities have similar bow-hunting seasons and that's helped get the population under control.