Biologists Ask: 'Why Does the Deer Cross the Road'?

Starting Saturday, and continuing over the next two weekends, biologists from the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and UC Davis will be back in the western hills area off Interstate 280, in the Belmont and Woodside areas
continuing a study that began in December of last year, to track and put radio collars on several deer.

The study, which is funded by Caltrans, is intended to help reduce collisions between motorists and deer and to protect the regional deer population.

Deer collaring will be performed during the weekends of July 21 and 22, and also July 28 and 29 from the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday).

Belmont Police are alerting motorists and residents in the western hills neighborhoods that boarder the Crystal Springs watershed, that some trapping activity may be visible. DFG and UCD researchers are using tranquilizer
dart guns and walk-in net traps. The dart guns are rifles fitted with scopes. After being tranquilized, the deer will be fitted with radio collars to track their movements and then released. The collars will automatically fall off within 6 months.

Personnel involved in this study will be in DFG uniforms (tan shirt with insignia, green pants) and will be driving marked vehicles. They will be accessing the watershed area from both I-280 and the Hallmark neighborhood during the week.

Note: The capturing of deer will not endanger the public in any way. For the safety of the public, please do not attempt to engage the DFG personnel while they are conducting these captures.

Please be cautious when driving through this area. Dart guns will be visible from parked vehicles belonging to Department of Fish and Game.

This is the second phase of this study. The first phase was completed in December of 2011. The results of this study will be available in the future.

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