What can be done about deer and vehicle crashes south of Dells?

Dell Rapids resident Ryan Rinehart recently made a Facebook post on a popular Dells site called "Ask Dell Rapids." His question was one of several that gets posted every day on the site.

He said he wasn’t expecting much of a response to his question about the rash of deer crossings and vehicle accidents just south of Dell Rapids on Highway 115, but it clearly struck a chord. In less than a week’s time, the post had 98 responses and it was evident that others had seen problems in the area.

“It really blew up,” Rinehart said of the post. “I really don’t know why there are so many deer there. I was just kind of curious and wanted to see what people thought.”

Rinehart said he’s seen 12 accidents himself in the area in recent months. He said all 12 were car and deer accidents, with some of them being the result of drivers braking for the deer and then getting hit from behind.

There are deer crossing signs going both directions on Highway 115 in that stretch, but Rinehart said he’s hoping for more.

“The signs are there, but I really think there needs to be a better way to warn people,” he said. “When I have friends come visit from Sioux Falls, I always ask which way they’re coming. If they’re taking 115, I tell them to watch out for deer. It’s so steep there, and they’ll just pop right out.”

Josh Delger, regional wildlife supervisor for the southeast region of South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, said that particular area south of Dell Rapids is a prime location for deer habitat.

“It’s near the river and there’s good food supply – like standing corn – on the other side of the road,” he said. “They’re constantly crossing the road at that particular spot.”

Delger said because of the breeding season in the fall, the deer are more active and October and November is the time they see more car and deer accidents. 

“There’s changes in the feeding resources and with agriculture equipment in the fields with all the corn and beans being picked, they’re much more active,” he said. “Then there’s movement from summer range to fall and winter range. Winter typically isn’t the high period of accidents, but we definitely see it year-round.”

Because of the natural movement of the deer, Delger said it’s difficult to come up with solutions. He said awareness of the situation is the best remedy, adding that all commuters should be aware of the area and slow down.

Rinehart said he’s hoping more attention will be paid to the problem. Many areas in the western part of South Dakota put up snow fences to discourage deer from entering a certain area. Rinehart said he’d like to see something like that, or perhaps signage with flashing lights to help people become more aware of the situation. Other comments on his Facebook post called for slower speed limits further south of town as drivers get closer to the heavy deer population.

“I’ve seen so many wrecks, and one of these times it’s going to be more than a vehicle that’s going to get wrecked, and that will be unfortunate,” Rinehart said. “We just have to make people aware to slow down in there because it’s getting worse than ever.”