Temporal patterns in road crossing behaviour in roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) at sites with wildlife warning reflectors

摘要: Every year, there are millions of documented vehicle collisions involving cervids across Europe and North America. While temporal patterns in collision occurrence relatively well described, few studies have targeted deer behaviour as a critical component prevention. In this study, we investigated weekly daily road crossing roe deer. Using events movement data obtained from GPS telemetry, employed mixed-effect models to explain frequency timing crossings at five segments by number predictors including traffic volume, activity the presence wildlife warning reflectors. We analysed 13,689 32 study animals. Individual variation was high but were highly consistent among Variation intensity on seasonal scale main driver behaviour. The reflected differences throughout reproductive cycle, while probability cross exhibited clear nocturnal emphasis crepuscular peaks. increased function density home-range, volume only exerted marginal effects. Movement our coincided with commuter mainly early morning late afternoon during winter periods spatial such rut. Both remained unchanged Our results emphasise importance behavioural for understanding vehicle-collision thus provide important information suggest that mitigation risk should focus strategic measures animal systems targeting drivers.