To the Journal editor:

The recent news of Michigan Department of the Transportation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources planning to spend $584,000 on a statewide “Wildlife Crossing Study” seems to me to be a waste of money and time.

Apparently, the focus will be on vehicle crash hotspots involving deer, bear, moose, elk and turkeys with the goal to reduce vehicle crashes and protect threatened wildlife species and with the study expected to last 3 years.

I think this would involve every vehicle crash in the state, that involves wildlife, to be reported to the authority that is collecting the data over the 3-year study.

How is the study going to require or encourage those involved in these specific crashes, to report their crash? I suspect many have not reported past vehicle crashes, involving wildlife, due to potential increase of insurance premiums or other personal reasons.

I’ve personally experienced a ruffed grouse flying into the side of my vehicle causing minimal damage to my vehicle but not to the grouse. Is this information the study is going to be looking for?

It seems to me there should already be vehicle crash information, involving wildlife in the Michigan State Police database that could be easily accessed and used to make some accurate conclusions for whatever the study is looking for.

Police agencies throughout the state that investigate vehicle crashes are required to document specific data related to each crash. Information like location, time of day, direction of travel and cause of the crash is documented by the investigating agency. 

Let’s not try to reinvent the wheel with this study when we can utilize historical data already available. MDOT and the DNR already have signed areas throughout the state warning drivers of deer and moose crossings.

We don’t need more signs which never keeps wildlife from doing what wildlife will do. I suggest spending the $584,000 on a road improvement project, not a Wildlife Crossing Study.

Sincerely,