Nonseasonal mortalities are those deer deaths that are not associated with the harvest of deer by hunters. In general, all deaths can be classifies into 12 fundamental causes of mortality and morbidity: anomalies, stress, trauma, suffocation, neoplastic diseases, toxicologic diseases, nutritional diseases, viral and rickettsial diseases, bacterial diseases, mycotic diseases, parasitic diseases, and senility. Table 10 contains a summary of nonseasonal deer mortalities that are associated with human/ deer conflicts (i.e. vehicle collisions and crop damage). The public, DNR Conservation Officers, and DNR Wildlife Resources personnel routinely report nonseasonal mortalities. The WV Department of Transportation, Division of Highways (DOH) -Traffic Engineering Division, provides monthly summaries of road kill deer that are encountered by DOH personnel. DNR Conservation Officers provide wildlife damage investigation reports from which the number of deer killed for crop damage is obtained.

The reported nonseasonal mortalities in Tables 10 decreased 20% from 27,305 in 2002 to 21,794 in 2003. Deer killed on crop damage permits decreased in all DNR Districts. Overall, deer killed through the crop damage permit system decreased 45% in 2003. Reported road kill (auto) mortalities decreased in 2003 in DNR Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and increased by 20 deer (.5%) in District 1. DNR Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 reported changes of 1%, 1. 3%, 1.1%, 20.6%, and 26.9%, respectively. Overall, roadkill mortalities decreased 12% in 2003.

The occurrence of reported deer vehicle collisions varies significantly through the year. Drivers should be especially aware of deer movements along roadways in the fall and again in late spring and early summer (see graph).


Written by James M. Crum

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Table 10. Nonseasonal White Tailed Deer Mortalities In West Virginia, 1978-2003.
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