Deer-vehicle crashes down in state, but up in Sandusky County

FREMONT - Data show that increased hunting in Ohio between 2015 and 2017 helped decrease road collisions with deer statewide, but in Sandusky County has seen a steady increase in crashes.

The Plain Dealer in Cleveland reported that, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, hunters have harvested about 186,000 deer statewide during that time period. Accidents involving vehicles and deer peaked in Ohio in 2015 at over 21,000 collisions, but that number dropped by more than 2,600 by last year.

In Sandusky County, Ohio Highway Patrol Sgt. Jordan Schwochow of the Fremont Post said animal collisions increased from 360 in 2016 to 454 in 2017.

Schwochow said the department totals are for all animal crashes, but that 98 percent of collisions between vehicles and animals involve deer.

Deer hunting has decreased the number of crashes in some areas of the state, but Schwochow said the number of animal-related crashes in the county has remained steady or increased.

"In January 2017, we had 40 crashes versus 34 crashes in 2018, so we are about on average," Schwochow said.

In February 2018, Schwochow said the patrol post handled 27 animal-related crashes, up from 20 in 2017.

March numbers could continue the rise in crashes as 14 animal-related crashes were reported as of March 13 this year, compared to 18 reported for the entire month of March in 2017.

Some northeastern Ohio communities where the deer population had been growing substantially have allowed or expanded bow hunting in order to thin the herds.

Schwochow said the department has not seen an increased presence in hunters in Sandusky County, citing few calls from motorists along U.S. Routes 6 and 20 calling to report parked cars along the roadway and people carrying guns.

"It doesn't feel like we are seeing any more hunters out than we have before," Schwochow said. "I don't think there is an increase in hunting here."

Strongsville's public safety director Charles Goss said that allowing bow hunting had a nearly immediate effect in helping to reduce deer-vehicle collisions. Goss said the program is so popular that Strongsville is considering allowing hunting on public lands and industrial properties.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

cshoup@gannett.com

419-334-1035

Twitter: @CraigShoupNH