Rochester Hills Deer-Car Accidents High, but Improving

Despite Rochester Hills' ranking at the top of southeast Michigan's deer crash list, an advisory committee told city leaders Monday night that the city should focus on education and increased awareness rather than lifting a ban on bow hunting in the city.

Although the city had the region's highest number of deer-vehicle crashes in 2009, that number has been steadily decreasing. Rochester Hills had 163 deer-vehicle crashes in 2009, down two from 2008 and down 56 from 2007, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

(See the map of deer crash sites attached to this story.)

Jim Kubicina, a Rochester Hills resident and leader of the Deer Management Advisory Committee, credited an increase of deer warning signs and the clearing of thick brush in areas heavily populated by deer with the slight decrease in accidents.

"We believe this helped," said Kubicina, who outlined his committee's recommendations on dealing with the deer. Among those recommendations:

• Continue a ban on feeding deer in the city.
• Continue to educate residents using SEMCOG's "Don't Veer for Deer" program.
• Publicize high deer crash areas by using movable signs from September through December. The sign warns drivers when there is a high deer traffic area. 
• Purchase speed warning signs–similar to those used near schools–to encourage drivers to slow down when in a high deer traffic area.
• Continue the ban on bow hunting in the city.

The committee's report comes a year after it recommended a set of nonlethal ways to control the city's deer population.

"We have made great strides in making it easier to co-exist with our beautiful wildlife," said Monique Balaban, a member of the committee.