Residents who see slow-moving trucks shining spotlights along valley roads next month should not be alarmed. The Sagamore Hills Police Department is advising the public of a nighttime deer survey planned by Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The park will complete five full spotlight counts between Monday, Nov. 2, and Thursday, Nov. 12. All of the work will take place Monday through Thursday. No more than four counts will happen in a single week.
When the Counts Will Happen
Each count will begin a half hour after official sunset. End times will vary, but crews usually finish three to five hours after starting.
Weather will play a role in the schedule. Counts will not take place on nights with rain, fog or high winds. Crews will also skip nights when other conditions would make it hard to see deer or drive safely.
What Residents Will See
The survey teams will use pickup trucks with crew cabs. Two spotlighters will ride in the back seat, watching out of the driver and passenger side windows.
Every vehicle will carry the National Park Service logo along with additional reflective signs. For safety, the trucks will run their emergency flashers during the survey.
Two teams will be out each night. One will cover a north route, and the other will cover a south route.
How the Survey Works
Survey routes cover 32 miles of roadway, which includes nearly all roads within the national park. Crews will also cover 8.5 miles along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad.
Trucks will travel at 10 mph while observers shine handheld spotlights from opposite sides of the vehicle. When deer are spotted, the truck will stop. Observers will count the deer and note whether antlers are present.
A laser range finder will help estimate how far the deer are from the road. Crews will also record which side of the road the deer were on and the mileage point along the route. The driver records the data while the vehicle is stopped and otherwise only positions the truck.
Protections for Homes, Drivers and Pedestrians
The park’s protocol states that spotlights will not be pointed at homes or across residential lots in a way that could disturb people living there. The summary also references areas up to 100 feet from either side of occupied dwellings.
Spotlights will not be aimed at vehicles on the road or at pedestrians. The park says every effort will be made to keep the survey from being mistaken for illegal nighttime hunting.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why are trucks shining spotlights in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in November?
The park is conducting a spotlight deer survey. Crews count deer seen from the road and note whether antlers are present.
2. When will the Cuyahoga Valley National Park deer survey take place?
Five counts will be completed between Monday, Nov. 2, and Thursday, Nov. 12. All counts happen Monday through Thursday.
3. What time do the spotlight deer counts start?
Counts begin a half hour after official sunset and usually end three to five hours later.
4. How can I tell if a spotlighting vehicle is part of the park survey?
Survey trucks are crew cab pickups marked with the National Park Service logo and reflective signs. They will also have their emergency flashers on and travel at about 10 mph.
5. Will the survey spotlights shine into homes?
No. The park’s protocol says spotlights will not be directed at residences, across residential lots, at moving vehicles or at pedestrians.
