http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/woman-wants-deer-crossing-signs-moved-deer-cross-133853876.htmlDonna called in to a North Dakota radio show saying it's irresponsible to have the signs in areas of such high traffic
We've written many stories about smart and compassionate animals, but A woman who called into a North Dakota radio show is giving far too much credit to deer.
She called in to Fargo-area station Y94 Playhouse to complain about the "deer crossing" signs being in high-traffic areas and highways after she had been in three car accidents involving deer. She said all of the accidents happened shortly after she saw a "deer crossing" sign.
"Why are we encouraging deer to cross at the interstate?" said the woman who was only identified as Donna. She understands animals need to cross roads to find food, but said, "It's so irresponsible of us to allow these deer crossings to be in areas where deer are so likely to be struck by oncoming traffic, wouldn't you agree?"
Most of us seem to know that the signs are made for drivers so they know to be extra mindful of the animals in certain areas. This is a fact the radio show host told her after asking if she was kidding.
Donna said she has written letters to local TV stations and newspapers in the past, but her complaint has fallen on deaf ears.
"The government put the deer crossings there, they can direct the deer populations anywhere they want to by moving that deer crossing sign," Donna said. Her request and solution is simple - move the signs to lower traffic areas.
The hosts found it difficult to explain to the woman the purpose of the signs and just quietly laughed at her. They eventually gave up trying to explain things to Donna and told her they would help spread the message. They certainly have done that. The video posted online has about 2.5 million views.
Donna isn't the only person who thinks deer crossing signs in high-traffic areas are a problem. Indiana resident Tim Abbott submitted a letter to a local newspaper last year suggesting that the signs be moved because a lot of deer get hit by cars in that area.
The letter got a lot of attention when it aired on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in September, 2011. Star Trek actor George Takei then posted it to his Facebook page in June 2012, according to Snopes.com. In a follow-up article, also published in the NWI Times, Abbott said he wanted to get a "rise out of people," but didn't say if he intended it to be humorous.
However, nearly a year after writing the letter, his pick-up truck collided with a deer near a sign. This prompted his daughter to pen a letter to the same paper asking, "What is it going to take to get the deer crossing signs removed?"
So he has some suggestions for officials.
He told the Times, "If they don't want to move that sign, maybe they could post another sign, kind of a warning to deer to look both ways before crossing the street."
I've also seen an example like this in Canada, but it doesn't involve deer. At the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto, there was about a nine-square-metre patch of grass. Surrounding the grass on the two sides not bordered by water was a fence that was about half a metre high. And in the patch of grass was a sign that said "No geese allowed." How are the geese supposed to know they aren't allowed?
Unfortunately for Donna and the Abbotts, people will be the ones who pay for the deer and geese not going where we want.
However, if they are right people all over Canada will most likely be eager to move a lot of deer and moose crossing signs.
