Temporal Patterns and Hotspot Identification of Vehicle Collisions with the Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus) on Jeju Island, South Korea

Abstract

Wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVCs) are increasing worldwide, posing a threat to both humans and wildlife in terms of human injury and loss of wildlife. Understanding the temporal and spatial non-randomness of WVCs is an essential process for effective WVC management. Roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is the most prevalent wildlife species in WVCs on Jeju Island, South Korea. This study analyzed individual temporal patterns and spatial hotspots (clusters) based on roe deer–vehicle collisions (RDVC) on Jeju Island from 2014 to 2017. RDVCs occur frequently from July to October, and RDVCs are higher in male deer than with females in all seasons, except in winter. The clusters in the high-risk periods were more regionally distributed compared to the clusters in the low-risk periods. Regardless of the period, some road sections have been identified as crucial clusters that should be given priority for road fencing to mitigate human-deer conflicts. Our findings could also provide road administrators with practical options for management such as temporarily imposing vehicle speed limits and installing signboards.