Traffic & Transit

Odds Of Hitting A Deer In PA Go Up: How To Avoid It This Season

The odds of hitting a deer while driving in Pennsylvania are high and only getting higher. Here are some tips to avoid it this peak season:

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PENNSYLVANIA — If you've driven in Pennsylvania, you don't need us to tell you that there are deer everywhere.

The odds of hitting a deer in Pennsylvania are high and only getting higher. The Keystone State is the third most-likely place in America where you'll hit a deer while driving, according to State Farm's annual deer-vehicle collision study.

That's right: Pennsylvania drivers have a one in 52 chance of hitting a deer. Overall, American drivers were less likely — one in 116 — to experience a crash involving a deer, elk, moose or caribou.

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But in Pennsylvania, the numbers are not declining. In fact, they're going up. In previous studies, Pennsylvania drivers had a one in 63 chance of hitting a deer.

The only states where you're more likely to hit a deer is in West Virginia and Montana. In West Virginia, one in 38 drivers are involved in an insurance claim stemming from a deer crash. And in Montana, one in 48 drivers deal with this plight.

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October, November, and December are the months where most animal-involved crashes occur, particularly around dawn and dusk.

The likelihood of a vehicle-animal collision is based on State Farm's estimate that U.S. motorists made more than 1.9 million animal collision claims from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

The 10 states with the greatest likelihood for an animal-vehicle collision are:

  1. West Virginia (1 in 38)
  2. Montana (1 in 48)
  3. Pennsylvania (1 in 52)
  4. South Dakota (1 in 54)
  5. Iowa (1 in 55)
  6. Wyoming (1 in 56)
  7. Wisconsin (1 in 57)
  8. Michigan (1 in 60)
  9. Mississippi (1 in 61)
  10. Minnesota (1 in 64)

For some perspective, State Farm actuaries say Americans have a 1 in 175 chance of being audited by the IRS, a 1 in 215 chance of dating a millionaire, a 1 in 220 chance of writing a New York Times bestseller, a 1 in 250 chance of learning their child is a genius and a 1 in 563 chance of catching a ball at a Major League Baseball game.

Any of those outcomes would be preferable to having your vehicle become one with an animal. State Farm said it expanded its annual analysis of deer-vehicle collisions this year to include other animals including ostriches, owls and more, because they, too, can be dangerous for all involved.

Here are five things you should do to lower the chances that you'll hit a deer in the roadway:

1. The most important thing you can do during rut is slow down, keep your eyes peeled on both sides of the roadway and be prepared to come to a complete stop if necessary. Deer don't stop, look and listen before they dart into the roadway. Deer-crossing signs warn of where they're most likely to cross, but you can't count on that, especially during rut.

2. You don't want to blind oncoming motorists, but you should use your high beams when possible to increase your chances of seeing animals in the ditches. Flicking on your high beams might cause animals to scurry away, but it’s not a sure thing. Your headlights might actually temporarily blind or confuse them, and they might dart in front of you.

3. Know all you can about deer lifestyles and when they're most active: around mealtime. Deer crashes usually occur an hour after sunset but also are common around sunrise, according to published research, but that doesn't mean you should let your guard down at other times.

4. Know that when you see one deer, you're likely to see another. They travel in herds, often in single file.

5. Don't veer to avoid deer. No good will come from that. Most car-deer crash deaths and injuries occur when motorists swerve to miss the deer. Instead, brake firmly, hold on to the steering wheel and stay in your lane as you bring the vehicle to a controlled stop.

Also, because it makes sense, make sure you're wearing your seat belt. If you do hit a deer, it will decrease the chances you will be injured.

A 2016 study in rural southwest Virginia found that among the 1,837 cases of road kill were 64 different species, including 1,415 mammals, 188 birds, 105 reptiles, 122 domestic animals and seven frogs.

Similar results were found in a 2017 Colorado study. The majority of the 1,242 animals killed in highway collisions near the Rocky Mountain foothills were mule deer, but the death toll also included porcupines, owls, badgers and one weasel.

But deer still are the main hazard in most areas — especially when bucks, the males, are “in rut” and seeking a mate. During this active time for deer, bucks will run in front of your car while chasing a potential mate, or while confronting another buck that has eyes on the same doe.

State Farm says collisions with animals tend to occur most often in the fall.

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“Claims after collisions with an animal range from small dents to totaled vehicles and injured drivers and passengers,” Michael Braaten, State Farm director of enterprise research, said in a news release. “By sharing ways to help drivers be aware of the increased dangers this time of year — including inclement weather, shorter periods of daylight and students driving home after evening activities — State Farm hopes to help decrease the number of collisions and injuries.”

Gimmicks, like high-frequency whistles, aren't going to help you much, according to researchers at the University of Georgia who tested a variety of sounds at different frequencies and intensities to see how deer reacted.

Their conclusion: Though some people swear by them, deer whistles don't change the animals' behavior.

There's also some debate on how much honking helps. It can't hurt, but it may not help, either.
Instead, rely on common sense.

Beth Dalbey, Patch staff, contributed to this report


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