MISSOURI, USA — What deer see as perfect, safe grazing areas can be nightmares for motorists.
Deer mating season, and peak activity, starts in October and peaks in November in Missouri, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Drivers traveling throughout the state should be on the lookout between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Missouri frequently ranks among the top states for deer-vehicle collisions. A report released by State Farm last year listed Missouri as the 10th-most likely state to be involved in an animal collision. MoDOT shared numerous tips to stay safe on the roads, including:
- Stay on guard after a close call or when you see a single deer, as there are likely more.
- Watch for the reflection of deer eyes from vehicle headlights and slow down so you can more easily react to their presence.
- Never swerve to avoid animals in the road, as it can cause loss of vehicle control, resulting in serious injury or death.
Despite the risks roads pose to deer, the long stretches of land are incredibly attractive areas for the animals.
"A road that runs through woods is an attractive place to a deer. Food grows close by, and it's a clearing of sorts, so predators can't easily sneak up unseen...On the simplest level, animals take to the road for the same reason people do: the going is easier," author Mary Roach wrote in her book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law.
The prime natural real estate, coupled with deer mating season, causes a spike in deer collisions during the state of fall. The human ritual of "falling back" for daylight savings time worsens the risk of collisions, as rush hour for most commuters moves to the same hours when white-tailed deer are most active - dawn and dusk, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
If a deer is hit, MoDOT warns drivers to not attempt to move the animal off the roadway and, instead, call the department.
“No one should ever jeopardize their safety by attempting to remove an animal in a high-traffic area. Instead, contact MoDOT’s customer service line at 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636),” said MoDOT State Maintenance Engineer Darin Hamelink. “Crews will address any animal or debris that poses a safety hazard, meaning the item is in the driving lanes. Crews will safely drag the large animal debris to the outer portion of the grassy roadside, outside any active drainage ditch or channel.”