One of the goals of Mentor’s Deer Management Plan is to reduce the number of deer/vehicle accidents. With grant funds received from the Ohio Department of Transportation, the city agreed to test Deer Deter units. The devices have been known to reduce accidents in other states by as much as 70-90%. Mentor is the first city in Ohio to use the system.
The devices were installed in November on portions of Lake Shore Boulevard, Hopkins Road and State Route 306. The units capture solar radiation so they are always charged. When headlights hit the side of the unit, it becomes activated and emits a blinking light and a beeping sound; this is intended to distract the deer and keep them from crossing in front of the oncoming vehicle. In the last ten years, nearly 800 deer/vehicle accidents have occurred in Mentor. The devices have been installed in many of those high incident locations.
November is the most dangerous month for deer/vehicle accidents and insurance companies list Ohio as a high risk state. Motorists are reminded that deer generally travel in herds; if you see one, there is a strong possibility that others are nearby.
For more information on the Deer Deter program call the Parks Department at (440) 974-5720 and ask for Nick Mikash or Cody Uhas. You can also email either of them at Mikash@cityofmentor.com or Uhas@cityofmentor.com.