The relationship between deer-train collisions and daily activity of the sika deer, Cervus nippon

Abstract

The relationship between deer-train collisions and daily activity of sika deer Cervus nippon was investigated between Mashu and Biruwa railway stations on the Senmou Line in eastern Hokkaido from April 1995 to March 1997. Deer-train collisions were concentrated near Mt. Biruwa, in the period from January to March (72% of the total), and in the evening (69%). Few collisions occurred in April when the first train passed through after sunrise. Deer crossing concentrated around sunset or sunrise during January to April. Monthly deer-train collisions were positively correlated with the number of deer crossing the railway tracks. Furthermore a constant directionality in railway crossing was detected in most months. This directionality resulted from deer moving between a feeding site in the evening and a resting site in the morning. Deer-train collisions occurred in relation to the daily activity pattern of deer in the vicinity of the railway tracks.