We have not talked about these for a long time and I would like to throw the question out there.
Do you use a deer whistle??
Why do you ask?
Are you trying to make a purchase decision?
Just curious because this has been on my mind lately. November is known to be the peak month for deer accidents and I have been remarking that the deer population seems larger than ever. I have observed an increased number of live deer grazing within 30 yards of the road and more dead carcasses littering the roads. This causes concern for our equipment and our safety.
I would jump at the chance to invest in some type of device that would put our minds at ease and provide some type of reliable assurance that these incidents would not occur.
In the case of “deer whistles” asking other drivers will most likely yield confusing and unproductive information. Driver’s individual experiences will vary by chance, opinion and type of device.
With this in mind, I have reviewed as many so-called scientific studies as I could find and the results are just as confusing and unproductive. A good summary of the research is quoted below: (DVC = Deer- Vehicle Crash)
“Conclusions
The DVC reduction effectiveness of air-activated deer whistles has been investigated through the use of non-scientific before-and-after studies and some documented research into the hearing capabilities of deer. In general, the relatively poor design and/or
documentation of the before-and-after studies (e.g., sample size) have produced dramatically conflicting results. No conclusions can be drawn from these studies as a whole, and better designs and documentation are recommended for future studies of this
nature. A small amount of documented/published research has been completed in the area of deer auditory capabilities and their reaction to air-activated whistles. For the most part, it has been found that the range of hearing sensitivity for deer is two to six kHz, and only some whistles apparently make sound within that range. It has also been generally concluded that deer did not react to vehicle-mounted air-activated deer whistles, and that
hearing the sound from these devices might be difficult when combined with typical vehicle roadway noise levels. The ability of whistles to produce the advertised level of sound at an adequate distance within the typical environment of a roadway has been
questioned. Additional scientifically defined and designed research focused on the effectiveness of air-activated deer whistles and similar non-air-activated devices is recommended. ”
Here is the Good News! None of the studies have shown the effectiveness of air activated whistles to be any different from the more expensive electric models. The air models can be purchased for $5.95 so even if it does not work the investment is less than a large pizza and is less fattening.
Now, a question for you to ponder.
As one of the most fuel efficient and cost effected teams cruising the highways can you calculate the increase fuel usage that the Deer Whistle will be utilizing to make those sounds?
How do you try to stay away from deer?
For most teams I would advise them to be aware of the warning signs and slow down; however, in your case you are already going slow enough.
