By Debra Spilar
Deer travel the trails of their ancestors years after these trails have been disrupted by roads, fences, and private divides.
The time of day, season and weather play a role in their routine as they are creatures of habit. Construction plays havoc with the deer’s ability to reach water, food and wooded sanctuaries. Simply put, they need to cross our roads to reach grazing areas or their young.
Early morning hours and ‘dusk to dawn’ add to the risk of deer crossing the roadways. While deer recognize the immediate threat of an animal or human predator and will run for safety, they do not understand the threat of a fast-moving vehicle, and honking horns do not register as a danger signal! They do not comprehend that the sound is coming from the moving vehicle but instead interpret them as just sounds in the air. The deer will often stop in the middle of the road to focus on your car horn as a confusing sound.
So please, slow down and stop if you must, but don’t honk your car horn to move a deer out of the roadway.