An analysis of natural factors of traffic accidents involving Yezo deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)

In Hokkaido, Japan, the number of Yezo deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) has recently increased drastically, causing a large number of deer-vehicle traffic accidents. This paper examines conditions related to deer-vehicle traffic accidents by analysing the following relationships: time of accident and lunar phase; time of accidents and time of sunrise/sunset; likelihood of accidents and rainfall patterns, temperature and season (particularly snow and hunting seasons). The results suggest that the potential for deer-vehicle traffic accidents increases during hunting and non-snow seasons when there is little or no rainfall, just before sunrise or just after sunset, or during a full, first quarter, or third quarter moon. A statistically significant relationship between temperature and deer-vehicle traffic accidents was not detected.http://tru.uni-sz.bg/bjvm/bjvm.ht