MARQUETTE, COUNTY, Mich. (WZMQ) – In a win for motorists and wildlife alike, MDOT has secured a grant from The Federal Government to fund a wildlife crossing analysis throughout the state.
The goal is to identify the most problematic wildlife crossing points that pose a risk to motorists as well as wildlife. MDOT has been awarded nearly a half million dollars for the study, which will identify the 20 hotspots on Michigan roads that see the highest number of collisions with wildlife. MDOT’s Amanda Novak explains how the data will be used.
“We are going to take existing MDOT crash data that shows us where some of these locations are, and then we’re going to combine that with species data from various sources and combine this all together to create a holistic picture of what the hot spots look like across the entire state,” said Novak.
This year, Michigan ranks 4th in the nation for deer strikes. In 2023 there were almost 59,000 car/deer collisions, killing 19 people. The added funding will allow MDOT and the DNR to find ways to reduce those numbers.
“From the hot spot identification, we will then identify some potential mitigation measures for each location,” said Novak.
Brad Miller, Co-Owner of Superior Collision in Marquette says hitting a deer can be very costly.
“On average, especially with the newer vehicles. A deer hit can cost anywhere from five to $10,000, and I know that’s a broad range, but with the new vehicles, and depending on the make and the model, it can go up very, very quickly and very dramatically,” explained Miller.
Novak says that if a crash is unavoidable, do not veer away from the animal, stay in your lane, and brake firmly with both hands on the wheel.
In case you were wondering, the Michigan county with the most deer strikes is Kent County, with Delta County recording the most in the UP, recording over 500 per year.
The study will also gather data on smaller animals who cross our roadways, like snakes, turtles, and small mammals.
