Deer a roadway threat to bikers

By Kevin Woster, Journal Staff Writer | Wednesday, August 11, 2004

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Sturgis rally riders accustomed to watching for wayward trucks and errant automobiles should also be on guard for a much smaller, but still dangerous, roadway threat: deer.

This year's rally accident total already includes two fatalities and an injury involving deer on highways. That is higher than normal for the rally but not surprising, state Game, Fish & Parks Department regional game manager John Wrede of Rapid City said Tuesday.

"It seems like we get at least one deer-related accident every year (during the rally)," Wrede said. "We'd caution people to expand their focus, their peripheral vision, to include the ditches. Watch for activity there, for unusual objects. And be prepared for the unexpected."

The unexpected ran right in front of Dave L. Sturgiss, 45, of Poland, Ohio, late Sunday on Interstate 90 near Draper. The Highway Patrol report said Sturgiss hit the deer, was thrown from his motorcycle and suffered two broken legs and head and internal injuries.

Another rider behind Sturgiss also hit the deer but wasn't injured.

An Indiana biker died last Friday when his motorcycle struck a deer on Highway 34 near Howes Corner. And an Oklahoma man was injured Saturday night near Mount Rushmore when he lost control of his motorcycle after swerving to miss a deer that ran out of the ditch and across the highway.

Deer are plentiful in the Black Hills and across most of South Dakota and frequently come to road ditches to browse. Deer movement increases in August because fawns have grown to the point where they can travel more and farther, Wrede said. Deer are always drawn to ditches for food. But ditches are more appealing than ever during dry years such as this because the low areas hold water and produce more green growth, Wrede said.

"The ditch tends to stay green. And it simply attracts deer," he said.

The deer threat is particularly great from sundown to sunrise, when the animals are most active, Wrede said. Experienced riders know that and adjust their driving, Ocala, Fla., rider Mike Schneider said Tuesday.

"There's not much you can do but pay attention, don't go so fast, especially on two-lane roads," said Schneider, who was surprised to hear of the I-90 accident.

"You'd think you'd be OK on the expressway," he said.

Wrede said deer are potential dangers along any highway, especially at night. They can easily get confused by the headlights of oncoming vehicles and have trouble with their footing on highways.

"They don't have a clue what to do. And cloven-footed animals just don't do well on pavement. There's no traction like there is on bare ground or grass. They simply can't move as fast," Wrede said.

Ross Valone, a physician from Des Moines, Iowa, said he hadn't considered deer as a major threat to his rally rides.

"Never even thought about it. We have lots of deer in Iowa, but you don't hear about accidents with motorcycles," he said. "But you'd really have no chance to stop."

New Mexico riders Fred and Paula Gibson faced that reality Monday as they road between the Wyoming border and Sturgis on I-90 for their first rally visit.

"There was a big buck right along the road," Paula Gibson said. "It was really close. That makes you think."

Fred Gibson said he always watches for deer but became especially vigilant after seeing several along the road. He pays close attention to the animals during the day but doesn't worry about them at night — for a pretty simple reason.

"We don't ride at night," he said.

Those who do, however, should add deer and even the larger elk to their list of threats, Wrede said. Deer might weigh 100 to 150 pounds, but elk weigh from 400 to 500 pounds.

"Elk are also a distinct possibility here in the Hills," Wrede said. "Hitting a deer is bad enough. But you don't want to run into an elk, period."

Contact Kevin Woster at 394-8413 or kevin.woster@rapidcityjournal.com