Why BC deer would also vote to never change clocks again

Shifting the clocks every year may spare us another hour of sunshine each morning, but it can be bad news for wandering deer at rush hour.

A 2022 study revealed that the switch from daylight savings to standard time in autumn causes to a 16% spike in deer-vehicle collisions in the US.

According to the findings of the study, year-round daylight-saving time would prevent 36,550 deer deaths, 33 human deaths, 2,054 human injuries in the United States, along with US$1.19 billion in collision costs annually.

Adam Ford, Professor for the Okanagan Institute for Biodiversity, Resilience and Ecosystems Service, told iNFOnews.ca that Okanagan residents should also be aware of the same collision risks. 

Deer activity is governed by light, or the circadian rhythm of the year, Ford explained.

“Deer activity is not governed by our watches,” Ford said. “Instead of the sun setting at, let's say, six o'clock, now it's setting at five o'clock, and that means people are more active in that period when deer are most active, which is right around sunset and an hour afterwards.”

“Research in other places has found that it can be quite a lethal time for deer, especially as drivers get adjusted to the new driving at dark,” he said. “And of course, we also have deer that are acting fairly erratically with the rut.”

During this time of year, deer will be moving down from higher elevations to find better winter food sources in the valley. This also brings them into contact with urban areas.

“There are more (deer) on the roads where there's more traffic,” Ford said. “Which are the ones that are in our neighbourhoods and that connect our communities. And so, we expect to see more deer happening to cross roads at this time of year anyways.”

With more deer on the roads at peak travel times, it’s important to stay vigilant. Especially during mating season, when the animals themselves are preoccupied.

“We expect to see more deer running around and crossing roads and really thinking about reproduction and not thinking about things like avoiding cars or more people,” Ford said.

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